Summer Concerts are in full swing!

First a reminder: Tuesday the 30th is the only concert by the Milwaukee American Legion Band at Humboldt park this summer. Concert begins at 6:30. See you there.

I've mentioned the Shorewood Concert Band schedule and the Whitefish Bay Band schedule in a previous post. Here's the schedule for one of the longest running bands in the metro area - our neighbors to the South, the Racine Concert Band.

The Racine Concert Band has been in existence since 1877. In 1923 they officially were sponsored by the City of Racine (named the Racine Park Board Band) and began a series of free concerts. There were a couple of other name changes as well, the Racine Municipal Band in 1967 , and the Racine Concert Band in 1996.

The Racine Concert Band is one of 37 community bands in all of North America to be honored by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. In December of 1995, they were awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll, the highest honor a community band can achieve. While a number of groups can receive the award in any given year, to this day there are only 37 bands to be so honored.

Since then the group continues the tradition began in the late 1800's, performing high quality free concerts for the people of Racine and its visitors. At the end of last season, the band had performed over 1400 free concerts! Quite an impressive run!

This year the summer season begins on July 4th with the Racine Independence Day Parade on Main Street in the morning and a concert of Patriotic music at North Beach beginning at 8 PM, just before the fireworks.

The summer season at the Zoo begins on Sunday July 12th at 7:30 PM. (If you come to the Zoo for the day, remember that the Racine Zoo is now charging admission. If you come just for the concert, admission is free.) Concerts will also be held at the Zoo on July 19 and 26, also at 7:30. In August, the concert time changes to 7:00 due to the available daylight. Those concert dates are August 2, 9, 16, and 23.

Director Mark Eichner has a lot planned for this season. Be sure to take in at least one of these fine concerts. Better yet, enjoy them all! See you there!