The fourth concert of the 153rd season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, July 1, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park. In honor of Independence Day, many of the compositions will be patriotic.
The July 1 concert repertoire will be:
America, the Beautiful arr. Carmen Dragon
El Relicario by Jose Padilla
Hello Dolly by Jerry Herman
This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood arr. Paul Murtha
National Emblem March by E. E. Bagley
The Best of Carole King arr. Johnnie Vinson
This is My Country by Don Raye and Al Jacobs
Highlights from Sophisticated Ladies by Duke Ellington
March for Peace by Edwin Franko Goldman
The Stars and Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa
Even if they don’t know the titles, audience members will recognize the melodies from all of the music, including medleys from Hello Dolly, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Carole King, and Duke Ellington.
This will be an especially nice week to celebrate families and celebrate the United States of America!
To help keep musicians and audience members safe, band members will follow strict safety protocols, including bell covers on woodwind and brass instruments, and physical distancing.
All of the concerts are free, and everyone is welcome. School band members and young children are especially encouraged to attend. Parking on Lake Shore Drive is prohibited. Parking is available in the lots closest to the amphitheater, as well as the Senior Center. Entrance to the park is free with a Michigan City Park sticker; otherwise, there is a parking fee.
The MCMB 153rd Season consists of ten free Thursday concerts, ending August 12. All concerts begin at 7:30p and last about an hour. The band plays a wide variety of music, with concerts designed to entertain audience members of all ages.
Jeffrey Scott Doebler is the conductor for the MCMB, and Quincy Ford is the assistant conductor. On November 3, 2018, Dr. Doebler was named a Distinguished Hoosier by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. Dr. Doebler serves as director of music education and bands at Valparaiso University. He is a past president of the Indiana Bandmasters Association and the Indiana Music Education Association. He is founder and conductor of Windiana: Professional Concert Band of Northwest Indiana. Mr. Ford, principal saxophone in the MCMB, is retired director of bands from Michigan City High School.
The band’s announcer is Rick Carlson.