The Tradition Continues

For as long as I can remember, this local community band has played a summer concert in the park. This year the tradition continues. The Milwaukee American Legion Band will perform on the Chalet stage in Humboldt Park this year on Tuesday July 5. The program begins at 6:30 with a performance by the Daley Debutantes Baton and Drum Corps. The American Legion Band, under the direction of Mike VanPelt, then follows with a traditional band concert in the park. Unfortunately, I do not have any information about the program just yet. But the Legion Band concerts are always fun and full of tradition. For instance, the band always begins with a march The Champions, which was written for the band many years ago. And the band always completes the program in the same way.

I suggest you mark July 5 on your calendar for an annual event: the summer concert by the Milwaukee American Legion Band in Humboldt Park. It's been going on for as long as I can remember!

First summer band concert

Join the Shorewood Concert Band for the first summer band concert this Saturday, June 11. The concert is a part of the Shorewood Men's Club Chicken Barbecue, held all day at Atwater Park, corner of Capitol Drive and Lake Drive in Shorewood. The Band begins its performance at 12:30 and will feature music with Wisconsin ties.

I'm looking forward to the concert, not only because it officially starts the summer band concert season, but because I love the Rupena's Chicken dinner, cooked fresh right in Atwater park. I'm going to enjoy the concert and then grab some chicken for a late lunch. The funds raised by the Men's Club go to a number of Shorewood groups, including the Concert Band.

So, see you at Atwater Park on Saturday, about 12:20 or so. Bring a lawn chair, relax, and enjoy the show. And then enjoy some chicken!

Two reminders

This Monday is Memorial Day, when we remember those who served in the military and gave their lives for our freedom. It is a day of remembrance, especially for those families immediately affected by such a sacrifice.

Please keep the solemnity of the day in mind. Take a moment to honor those who gave their lives. And also honor all who served. It is because of their service that we enjoy the freedoms that we have.

I hope to see you at the Knightwind Ensemble concert at Wisconsin Memorial Park at 1 PM in the Chapel of the Chimes.

The second reminder is that Dr. Patricia Backhaus will conduct last concert as Music Director of the Milwaukee Festival Brass on Saturday June 4 at 3 PM in the Schwan Concert Hall of Wisconsin Lutheran College. It will be a memorable concert for sure, mixing Beatles music, 50's Rock and Roll, the music of Gustav Holst, and music from the Lord of the Rings. WOW! Let's fill the hall for this one!

First event of the summer

Here is a sign that summer is almost here: the first summer band concert announcement!

Announcing: The Shorewood Concert Band will perform at the Shorewood Men's Club Chicken Barbecue. It will be held at Atwater Park, corner of Lake Drive and Capitol Drive in Shorewood on Saturday June 11th. The Band concert will begin at 12:30. The Chicken Barbecue begins at 11:30 and goes to about 7 PM.

As usual, the Shorewood Concert Band, under the baton of Dr. Patricia Backhaus, will present a light program of show tunes, marches, and band favorites. This year, the program for the Chicken Barbecue is On Wisconsin: Music with Wisconsin Ties. The program will last about an hour, so come for the concert and grab some delicious chicken to take home. The money helps fund a number of groups helped by the Men's Club, and one of those groups is the Band.

Hope to see you there!

A Change for Memorial Day

There are two Memorial Day concerts this year, one in the early afternoon and one in the late afternoon. The late afternoon concert is downtown at the War Memorial Center, Wisconsin Avenue at the lake, at 5 PM, performed by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band. The MMCCB has performed at the War Memorial Center for a number of years, and always presents a nice concert. There is no admission.

The change is in regards to the early afternoon concert performed by the Knightwind Ensemble. For 21 years, the Ensemble has performed their annual Pops Concert at the Milwaukee County Zoo. This year, the concert venue has changed to the Chapel of the Chimes in Wisconsin Memorial Park, 132nd and Capitol Drive in Brookfield. This year the Ensemble will perform music of the Civil War in commemoration of its 150th anniversary. Selections include The Blue and The Gray and American Salute, a wonderful arrangement of When Johnny Comes Marching Home. And no Memorial Day concert would be complete without the Armed Forces Salute.

The concert begins at 1 PM, but you may want to arrive early. The Brookfield Civic Chorus performs a Memorial Day program at noon. You can also browse the many hallways filled with wonderful artwork. Also, Wisconsin Memorial Park will be flying 1500 U.S. Flags, called their Avenue of the Flags, beginning at 9:30 AM. This is truly an impressive site you don't want to miss.

So, be sure to take in one of the Memorial Day concerts. I'll be at the Knightwind Ensemble concert, and I hope to see you there.

Concert Preview - Menomonee Falls Symphony

The Menomonee Falls Symphony presents a whopper of a concert on Saturday evening May 21 at 7:30 PM in the Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center. Two major works will be performed.

The symphony will reprise The Armed Man of Karl Jenkins, a multi-movement work for chorus, soloists, and orchestra. The MFSO performed this piece a number of times at the anniversary of September 11th. The theme of the concert is the devastation of war and the need for peace. The timing of this performance is especially interesting given the events of the last few days.

The MFSO will also perform the First Symphony of Gustav Mahler. The dramatic four movement symphony is sometimes called the Titan, as Mahler originally conceived the symphony as a tone poem loosely based on the Jean Paul novel of the same name. Instead of trying to summarize such a work, I think I can best describe the symphony as dramatic and wonderful, and leave it at that. This is one you don't want to miss.

You can get more information, or order tickets, by visiting the MFSO web site.

Just a few concerts left this season

The spring concert season is nearly completed. Here's a list of upcoming concerts as I have them right now.

May 15 - Lakeshore Symphonic Band, Cedarburg Performing Arts Center, 3 PM

May 15 - Milwaukee American Legion Band, South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center, 3 PM

May 22 - Menomonee Falls Symphony performing the First Symphony of Gustav Mahler, Sussex Hamilton Fine Arts Center, 7:30 PM

May 30 - Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band, Milwaukee War Memorial Center, 5 PM


And I'll have a concert preview of the Menomonee Falls Symphony concert for you next week!