The sixth concert of the 158th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, July 9, 7:30pm, at the Guy Foreman Amphitheater in Washington Park. The concert is titled “Flight of Fancy”. We will be featuring guest vocalist; Michelle Howisen, Choral Director from Michigan City High School.
The July 9 concert repertoire will be selected from the following compositions:
Midway March by John Williams, arr. by John Moss
Selections from Mary Poppins arr. by Ted Ricketts
Afterburn: Relaunch by Randall D. Standridge
Over the Rainbow arr. by Warren Barker featuring Michelle Howisen
Star Dust arr. by Warren Barker featuring Michelle Howisen
The Mandalorian barr. by Paul Murtha
Goodnight Moon arr. by Michael Markowski
Selections from UP arr. by Michael Brown
Among the Clouds by Brian Balmages
Warren Barker (1923–2006) was a highly distinguished American composer, arranger, and conductor whose prolific career spanned Hollywood’s golden era of entertainment and the classical wind band stage. A master orchestrator, Barker spent over two decades in television and film, most notably serving as the longtime composer and conductor for the iconic 1960s sitcom Bewitched, where he created the show’s signature musical style, and contributing to major film scores including the Oscar-winning Hello, Dolly!.
In the latter half of his career, Barker channeled his commercial mastery into wind literature, becoming one of the most widely performed concert band composers in the world. His sophisticated original works and arrangements earned him prestigious commissions from elite ensembles worldwide, including the United States Air Force Band, the Royal Australian Navy Band, and the Norwegian Army Staff Band.
Michelle Howisen is the choir director at Michigan City High School, where she has held the position for the past thirteen years. Prior to teaching in Michigan City, she was the choir director at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois. She received her Bachelor’s degree from DePauw University in 2005, majoring in K-12 vocal and general music education. In 2010, she obtained her Master’s Degree in Vocal Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. Her students have earned gold ratings at the district and state levels for the ISSMA Solo and Ensemble competitions. Her choirs have also received gold ratings at the ISSMA Organizational contests. The Michigan City High School choirs received the ISSMA All Choir Award for the first time in school history for the 2025-2026 school year under her direction. She would like to thank her husband, Harry, three beautiful children; Elizabeth, Luke, and Joseph, and her parents for their continuous love and support.
Continuing its tradition of concluding each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along, the Michigan City Municipal Band will close with My America arr. by Paul Murtha
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, audience members will use the new automated parking procedure (which uses a QR code).
Jeffrey Scott Doebler is the conductor of the MCMB, and Frank Gast is the assistant conductor. In 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. Gast serves as director of bands at Michigan City High School.
The band’s announcer is Rick Carlson.