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2023 marks the 155th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band.  The 2023 concert series will consist of ten free Thursday concerts, beginning June 8, and ending August 10.  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. The MCMB also plays for the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery, and in the Michigan City Patriotic Parade.

Highlights of the summer concert series include special guest soloists and two commissions by award-winning composers. Soloists will be GySgt. Hiram Diaz, euphonium, from the US Marine Band (August 3); and Anne Marie Bice, soprano (June 22 and 29, and July 13). Other soloists and special events will be announced during the season.

The world premiere of Blue Water, Blue Sky by Catherine McMichael will take place on August 3. Also on August 3, the Concerto for Euphonium and Band by Tom Davoren will showcase the band with world-class euphonium soloist GySgt. Hiram Diaz, in three beautiful and dazzling movements.

In addition to being outstanding performers, many of the band members are also successful conductors. Some of those conductors will be featured on individual compositions throughout the summer.

Jeffrey Scott Doebler is the conductor for the MCMB, and Quincy Ford is the assistant conductor. 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.

Thursday, June 08, 2023 Concert

The Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will begin its 155th season on Thursday, June 8, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park.

The MCMB 155th season will consist of ten free Thursday concerts, beginning June 8, and ending August 10. 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. The MCMB also plays for the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery, and in the Michigan City Patriotic Parade.

The June 8 concert repertoire will be:

The Invincible Eagle March by John Philip Sousa
Oblivion by Astor Piazzola (flute section feature)
Salvation is Created by Pavel Chesnokov, arr. Michael Brown
Pass the Pickles by Grace LeBoy
Thriller by Michael Jackson
Seminole Snake Dance by Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate
Promises, Promises by Burt Bacharach and Hal David
Light Cavalry Overture by Franz von Suppe
My America arr. Joyce Eilers

Astor Piazzola was an Argentine composer who was famous for tangos. Oblivion is a tango that features our tremendous flute section. Salvation is Created is a beautiful and popular choral anthem that demonstrates the band’s lovely blended sound. Pass the Pickles is a dance number by Grace LeBoy. Mrs. LeBoy was a successful stage composer of the early 20th century. She was often overshadowed by her husband, Gus Kahn, who was famous for music of vaudeville, Broadway, and films.

One of the most popular songs and albums of all time was Michael Jackson’s Thriller. This catchy tune will be familiar to all of our audience members. Oklahoma composer Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate is member of the Chickasaw tribe. His Seminole Snake Dance features the percussion section, and allows us to learn that the snake dance was originally a water ceremony because snakes were the traditional guardians of springs.

Burt Bacharach, one of America’s great composers, died this year. We’ll honor Mr. Bacharach with a medley from his musical Promises, Promises. Light Cavalry Overture is a classic composition found on many band and orchestra programs, with familiar melodies that are often heard in movies, cartoons, television shows, and commercials.

Finally, the MCMB will continue its tradition of closing each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along. Joyce Eiler’s arrangement of America (My Country ‘tis of Thee) allows us to enthusiastically honor our great nation.

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 of $4 for the band concert.

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. Mr. Ford, principal saxophone in the MCMB, is retired director of bands and music department chair from Michigan City High School.

Doebler & Ford

The band’s announcer is Rick Carlson.

The Star-Spangled Banner

The Star-Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

6-8-23 My America

My America

My country, ’tis of Thee,
Sweet Land of Liberty
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.

Our fathers’ God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.

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