Wheaton Municipal Band welcomes Stephen Peterson to the podium June 23

On Thursday, June 23, the Wheaton Municipal Band welcomes Dr. Stephen Peterson to the podium at 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Park Bandshell in downtown Wheaton.

An outstanding clinician and conductor, Peterson brings his renown musicianship and love of Illinois to the program.

Former director of bands at the University of Illinois since 2015, Peterson conducted the U of I Wind Symphony, as well as the graduate wind conducting and leads one of the most historic wind band programs in the nation.

Peterson adds Wheaton onto his schedule as a conductor and clinician. He has toured four continents and 42 states.

An expert on wind band literature, Peterson programed music that will please the audience and the band. Included in the literature is "An Outdoor Overture" by Aaron Copland and "American Hymn Suite" by Dwyane Milburn. In 1938, Copland composed "An Outdoor Overture" for young performers of the orchestra from the High School of Music and Art in New York City.

Copland wanted to play a role in introducing good contemporary American music to young players. In 1942, it was arranged for concert band.

Also, on the program is Clare Grudman's "Fantasy on American Sailing Songs." This delightful medley of folk tunes shows the humor and character Grundman is known for.

Peterson brings to the stage a lesser known work, "Sound and Smoke" by Vietnamese composer Viet Cuong. The New York Times calls him "alluring" and "wildly inventive." His music has been played all over the world and now comes to the Memorial Park stage.

In addition, the band plays Sousa's "University of Illinois March" and Gershwin's medley from "Porgy and Bess."

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Park at 225 Karlskoga Ave. in downtown Wheaton.

For more information, go to the band's website at www.wheatonmunicipalband.org.