The tenth and final concert of the 157th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, August 7, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park. The concert will feature a great variety of music, including compositions by Cole Porter, Hoagy Carmichael, and John Philip Sousa. Guest artists will be soprano Anne Marie Bice and conductor Julie Plant.
The August 7 concert repertoire will be:
West Point March by Philip Egner
Cole Porter Classics by Cole Porter
Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parrish
Black Granite by James Hosay
Metal! arr. Sean O’Loughlin
Highlights from The Music Man by Meredith Willson
Expressions by Bill Calhoun
Let’s Go Crazy by Prince Rogers Nelson
America, the Beautiful arr. Carmen Dragon
The Stars and Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa
Guest soprano soloist Anne Marie Bice will sing music from two of Indiana’s most famous composers: Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael. Ms. Bice is a voice professor from Valparaiso University. She has extensive performance experience, sings in a wide variety of styles, and has been soloing with the Michigan City Municipal Band since 2015. She earned music degrees from Luther College and Northwestern University.
In addition to being outstanding performers, many of the Michigan City Municipal Band members are successful conductors. On five concerts this season, conductors from within the band are being featured, each leading one composition. On August 7, Julie Plant will conduct Black Granite by James Hosay. Mrs. Plant is a music educator at Liberty Intermediate School in Chesterton. She plays horn in the Michigan City Municipal Band and Windiana Concert Band. Mrs. Plant holds degrees in music education from Valparaiso University and VanderCook College of Music.
Black Granite is a heroic march that honors Vietnam veterans. The title refers to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC. Composer James Hosay served for many years as staff arranger for the US Army Band, “Pershing’s Own.” Among his many, many compositions are original works to celebrate the 50th anniversary of NATO, and the re-dedication of the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Building.
West Point March was written by military bandsman Lt. Philip Egner. The composition contains snippets of nine military tunes, bugle calls, and other songs that are familiar to the cadets at West Point. You’ll recognize many of them. Graduates of Valparaiso University will especially recognize the West Point Alma Mater, which has the same tune as the Valparaiso University Alma Mater.
Metal! is a compilation of several tuneful and recognizable heavy metal songs from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s: Iron Man, Rock You Like a Hurricane, The Trooper, and Crazy Train. Two of the selections were made popular by the late Ozzy Osbourne.
Highlights from The Music Man showcases three selections from the blockbuster Broadway musical by Meredith Willson: The Wells Fargo Wagon, ‘Til There was You, and Seventy-six Trombones. Meredith Willson grew up in Mason City, Iowa, which became the model of “River City” in The Music Man. Mr. Willson went on to play flute and piccolo in the Sousa Band.
Continuing its tradition of concluding each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along, the Michigan City Municipal Band will close with Carmen Dragon’s famous setting of America, the Beautiful.
The Michigan City Municipal Band sincerely appreciates the citizens, city government, and parks department of Michigan City for supporting the band!
Thanks to our videographer, Ruben Alexander, the Michigan City Municipal Band can be seen on television all year long. For Michigan City area residents, the concerts are broadcast every Wednesday, at 10:00a and 8:00p, on cable channel 99. The band concerts also air in Fort Wayne.
All of the Michigan City Municipal Band 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. (The $4 fee applies after 7:00p.)
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. Mr. Ford, principal saxophone in the MCMB, is retired director of bands and music department chair from Michigan City High School.
The band’s announcer is Rick Carlson.