Maestro Moss moves over for July 26 Wheaton Municipal Band concert

Anyone who attends the Wheaton Municipal Band concerts in Memorial Park knows that the band is full of talented instrumentalists.  Many of the musicians in the band are conductors as well and music director Dr. Bruce Moss turns the podium over to them for this week’s concert.  Come out and hear the exciting variety of music and interpretation on Thursday, July 26 at 8:00 p.m. in Memorial Park in downtown Wheaton.

The concert opens with clarinetist John Ehrich (18th season with the band) conducting the Concert March The Sinfonians by Clifton Williams.  Ehrich, from Aurora, is the former music director of Carlinville Junior/Senior High School and is currently a computer programmer at Blue Cross Blue Shield.  Next up is bass clarinetist Daryl Beese (26th season with the band), currently the Director of Bands at Lake Bluff Middle School, conducting Aaron Copland’s Variations on a Shaker Melody.

Three conductors share the podium for Gustav Holst’s First Suite in E-Flat: Movement 1, bassoonist Ricardo Vazquez (3rd season with the band) taught at Sandburg Middle School in Elmhurst; Movement II, clarinetist Steve Klaus (21st year with the band and15th year as WMB manager), is the director of bands at Ridgewood High School in Norridge/Harwood Heights; Movement III, bass clarinetist Chris Wallbruch (in her 21st year with the band and as co-librarian and trustee), is the band director at Jefferson Middle School, Schafer Elementary and North Elementary in Villa Park.

March of the Belgian Paratroopers by P. Leemans has Paul Barton as its leader.  Then, Garth Anderson (4th year with the WMB and personnel manager) conducts Fandango by Werle.  This spirited piece needs a conductor with energy and Anderson brings it to the podium.  He teaches beginning band and general music in Sycamore, as well as private trumpet lessons.

Two more great marches round out the march portion of the program. Florentiner March by J. Fucik is conducted by Laurie McCauley, general music teacher and band director for East Aurora School District 131. The Klaxon by Henry Fillmore is lead by Benjamin Helton (3rd year with the band).  For the last four years, Helton has been the Director of Bands for Bloom High School District #206 in Chicago Heights.  This fall he will be a graduate assistant for the Athletic Bands at Northern Illinois University.

Percy Granger’s Handel in the Strand will be conducted by Jim Colombo (10th season with the band). Colombo is the director of bands at Hauser Junior High in Riverside, and is one of the marching band directors at A.A. Stagg High School. An Americana favorite, Shenandoah by Frank Ticheli, will be led by Rich Paluch (14th season with the band).   Currently in his seventh year as director at Mannheim Middle School, Paluch previously directed bands at West Aurora High School and Grayslake Middle School.  In 2005, Paluch was one of six finalists invited to audition for a conducting position with the United States Air Force.

Expect two more sensational numbers:  Albanian Dance by Shelley Hanson conducted by flutist Megan Corkins (sixth season with the band) and Highlights from Phantom of the Opera by Webber/arranged by Barker and conducted by clarinetist Ken Goodman,  director of bands at Sycamore High School.

Don’t miss this amazing concert, Thursday, July 26 at 8:00 p.m. in Memorial Park.  Come early and prepare to enjoy a rousing evening.