The Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will hold the seventh concert of our 157th season on Thursday, July 17, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park. The band plays a variety of music to entertain audience members of all ages. All concerts are free and everyone is welcome. Conductor Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler also serves as director of music education at Valparaiso University. Assistant Conductor Quincy Ford, principal saxophonist in the MCMB, previously served as director of bands and music department chair at Michigan City High School. Quincy will lead the band this week.

The July 17 concert program will include:

The Liberty Bell March by John Philip Sousa
American Folk Song Rhapsody No.3 by Clare Grundman
Salvation Is Created arr. Michael Brown
Tudor Sketches by William Owens
Kentucky Trotter by Frank Perkins
La Bella Roma by John Cacavas
Symphonic Highlights from “Frozen” arr. Stephen Bulla
The Beach Boys Greatest Hits arr. Michael Brown
The Fairest of the Fair by John Philip Sousa arr. Keith Brion and Loras Schissel

Continuing its tradition of concluding each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along, the Michigan City Municipal Band will close with “America The Beautiful” arranged by Warren Barker.

The MCMB 157th season consists of ten free Thursday concerts, ending August 7. The concerts begin at 7:30p and last about an hour.
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 small fee of $4 for the band concert. (The $4 applies after 7p)

At this week’s concert, the Parks and Recreation Planning Department will be available to share some information with the community. Please stop by their booth if you are able. Food trucks will be on site for the band concerts. Audience members are encouraged to patronize these local businesses.

Rick Carlson, principal trumpet for MCMB, will be the announcer.

The sixth concert of the 157th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, July 10, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park.

Special guest artist will be Dr. Lauren Hartman, soprano soloist. Guest conductor for one selection will be Sarah DeRossi Kelly. Dr. Hartman is a music educator, church musician, and soloist from Miami. Mrs. Kelly is one of the band teachers in the Valparaiso Community Schools. She plays piccolo and flute in the MCMB.

The July 10 concert repertoire will be:

A Kingston Trio Folk Song Overture arr. Alfred Reed
Our Cast Aways by Julie Giroux
Sarah DeRossi Kelly, conductor
They Can’t Take That Away from Me by George Gershwin
Lauren Hartman, soprano
I’ve Made My Plans for the Summer by John Philip Sousa
Lauren Hartman, soprano
Water Drops Come Spring by Richard Saucedo
It’s Not Unusual/Delilah arr. Bill Holcomb
Revival March by John Philip Sousa
Winds Across the Water by Erika Svanoe
God Bless America by Irving Berlin

Special guest artist will be soprano soloist Lauren Hartman. Dr. Hartman serves at Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay, Florida, where she teaches choir for grades four through twelve. She holds three degrees in voice performance: University of Miami (D.M.A.), University of Northern Iowa (M.M.), and Simpson College (B.M.). Dr. Hartman is active as a professional vocalist and church musician (vocalist, pianist, children’s choir director). She has been a frequent vocal soloist with the Miami Sousa Band and Windiana Concert Band, including Windiana tours in China and Italy. In 2022, Dr. Hartman served as a guest conductor, vocalist, and pianist with Windiana at Carnegie Hall. This month, Dr. Hartman is in residence at Valparaiso University, serving as Operations Manager for Lutheran Summer Music, the national high school music academy and festival. Dr. Hartman will sing the George and Ira Gershwin favorite, They Can’t Take that Away from Me. She’ll also sing John Philip Sousa’s comedic I’ve Made My Plans for the Summer, about a young lady declining the advances of a man she meets.

In addition to being outstanding performers, many of the Michigan City Municipal Band members are also successful conductors.Continue reading→