The eighth concert of the Michigan City Municipal Band’s (MCMB) 158th season will be held Thursday, July 23, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park. In case of inclement weather, the concert will take place in the Michigan City High School Auditorium, 8466 W. Pahs Road.

The performance will feature two soloists from the US Marine Band, “The President’s Own.” MSG. Brandon Eubank, trumpet, will solo with the MCMB on the beautiful and lyrical A Trumpeter’s Lullaby by Leroy Anderson. MSG. Hiram Diaz will solo with the MCMB on the premiere of Variations on La Comparsa by Dennis Llinas. Dr. Llinas serves as director of bands at the University of Oregon. His composition presents the famous La Comparsa melody by Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona, then showcases the dazzling technique of the euphonium in a set of variations. Later in the program, MSG. Eubank, MSG. Diaz, and the MCMB will collaborate on Joseph Turrin’s tour-de-force duet, Fandango. The work was composed for the principal trumpet and trombone in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

The audience will also have the opportunity to see the Back Home Again in Indiana bench that was painted by Tom Hornick and Ray Kominiariek, and is currently sitting at the corner of Ninth Street and Franklin Street in Michigan City. The bench is part of the Michigan City Public Art Committee’s “Heritage and Legacy” bench project. Tom Hornick and Ray Kominiariek’s artwork is one of 15 benches that have been decorated by local artists. Everyone can enjoy these beautiful benches throughout the summer, and they will be auctioned off in October as a local fundraiser.

In the audience for July 23, we look forward to welcoming attendees of the convention of the National Drifters, who will be meeting in Michigan City during the week. The National Drifters is an organization that provides service to local communities.

The remainder of the July 23 concert repertoire will be:

Pride of the Marines by Austyn Edwards

Pure Imagination by L. Bricusse and A. Newley, arr. Douglas Wagner
Frank Gast, conductor

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas, arr. James Curnow
Frank Gast, conductor

It’s All Right by Curtis Mayfield, arr. Chris Bernotas
Frank Gast, conductor

Danza Zanzare (Dance of the Mosquitoes) by JaRod Hall

Semper Fidelis by John Philip Sousa

Continuing its tradition of concluding each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along, the MCMB will close with Joyce Eilers’ arrangement of America (My Country, ‘Tis of Thee).

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 Parks sticker; otherwise, audience members will use the new automated parking procedure (which uses a QR code). The parking rate is $2 per hour in the Senior Center parking lot and Fedder’s Alley.

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.

The seventh concert of the 158th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, July 16, 7:30pm, at the Guy Foreman Amphitheater in Washington Park. The concert is titled “From Film and Screen”.

The July 16 concert repertoire will be selected from the following compositions:

Captain America March arr. by Paul Murtha
Waltz No. 2 by Dmitri Shastokovich arr. by James Curnow
Cartoon Carnival arr. by Jack Bullock
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas arr. by James Curnow
Pure Imagination arr. by Douglas Wagner
It’s All Right arr. by Chris Bernotas
Big Band Signatures arr. by John Higgins
Ashokan Farewell arr. by Calvin Custer
Selections from Chicago arr. by Ted Ricketts
Hans Zimmer: Movie Milestones arr. by Michael Brown

Paul Dukas (1865–1935) was a seminal French composer, critic, and scholar whose brilliant orchestration left an indelible mark on Western classical music. Universally celebrated for his dazzling symphonic poem The Sorcerer’s Apprentice—immortalized globally by Disney’s Fantasia—Dukas was a central figure of the French musical Renaissance. Known for his fierce perfectionism, he famously destroyed the majority of his own manuscripts, leaving behind a small but flawless catalog of masterpieces, including the opera Ariane et Barbe-bleue and the exquisite ballet La Péri.

Hans Zimmer (1957) is an Academy Award and Grammy winning composer widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s most innovative, influential, and prolific musical talents. With a career spanning over four decades, Zimmer has scored more than 500 projects, which have collectively grossed over $30 billion at the worldwide box office. Renowned for his distinct ability to seamlessly integrate electronic sound design with traditional orchestral arrangements, his legendary filmography includes The Lion King, Gladiator, The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, and the Dune series. Beyond his cinematic masterworks, Zimmer has redefined how film music is experienced globally, selling out arenas worldwide as a touring rock-star-composer with his groundbreaking live arena productions.

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

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.

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.

The fifth concert of the 158th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, July 2, 7:30pm, at the Guy Foreman Amphitheater in Washington Park.  The concert theme is titled “America 250 – A Celebration”.

The July 2 concert repertoire will be selected from the following compositions:

Torch of Liberty March by Karl L. King, arr. by James Swearingen

Discovery 1492 An Historic Suite for Band by Robert W. Smith

On an American Spiritual by David R. Holsinger

SATCHMO! A Tribute to Louis Armstrong arr. by Ted Ricketts

Shenandoah arr. byFrank Ticheli

American Flourish by Robert W. Smith

Hoe Down from Rodeo by Aaron Copland, arr. by John Moss

Robert W. Smith (1958–2023) was an internationally renowned American composer, conductor, arranger, and educator. A graduate of Troy State University and the University of Miami, his sweeping, programmatic music made him one of the most frequently performed wind band composers in history. An active member of the American Bandmasters Association and a lifelong advocate for school music programs, his compositions remain global standards performed everywhere from middle school cafeterias to the world’s premier concert halls.

David R. Holsinger (b. 1945) is an award-winning American composer and conductor whose music is performed by wind bands, orchestras, and choirs across the globe. A graduate of Central Methodist University, Central Missouri State University, and the University of Kansas, Holsinger is a pioneer of twentieth-century wind literature, celebrated for his pioneering use of driving cross-rhythms, shifting meters, and emotional storytelling. He resides in Cleveland, Tennessee, where he continues to compose new commissions for ensembles of all proficiency levels.

Continuing its tradition of concluding each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along, the Michigan City Municipal Band will close with America, the Beautiful  arr. by Carmen Dragon

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.

The fourth concert of the 158th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, June 25, 7:30pm, at the Guy Foreman Amphitheater in Washington Park.  The concert theme is titled “Animal Attractions” a dedication to our animal friends at the Washington Park Zoo.

The June 25 concert repertoire will be selected from the following compositions:

The Black Horse Troop by John Philip Sousa, edited by Frederick Fennell

The Bare Necessities from Walt Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK arr. by Paul Murtha

March of the Arachnids by Randall D. Standridge

Send in the Clowns from the musical A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC arr. by Frank D. Cofield

Call of the Wild by Brian Balmages

Carnival of the Animals arr. by Jay Bocook

Fireflies arr. by John Wasson

Selections from The Greatest Showman arr. by Paul Murtha

Circus Bee arr. by Calvin Custer

Frank D. Cofield (1913–2005) was an American composer, arranger, and educational editor. Holding a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree from George Peabody College, his works bridged the gap between popular American culture and the classroom. His extensive library of arrangements and original compositions remains an enduring testament to the mid-20th-century American school band movement.

Brian Balmages (b. 1975) is an American composer, conductor, producer, and educator. Renowned for his ability to write engaging, deeply meaningful literature for all proficiency levels, his works are staples in the wind band and string orchestra repertoires. An elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Balmages resides in Baltimore, Maryland, and continues to use his musical platform to support global relief efforts, honor student legacies, and advocate for the transformative power of school music programs.

Continuing its tradition of concluding each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along, the Michigan City Municipal Band will close with A Patriotic Festival  arr. by Mark Williams.

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.

The third concert of the 158^th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, June 18, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park. The concert will celebrate Junteenth.

The June 18 concert repertoire will be selected from the following compositions:

March:  The Governor’s Own by Alton Adams

From the Delta by William Grant Still

High Intensity by Chandler Wilson

Portraits in Legacy by Chandler Wilson

Shine on Me by Erin Keeton-Howard

The Blues Brothers Revue arr. Jay Bocook

St. Louis Blues by WC Handy, arr. Luther Henderson, ad. Michael Brown

Alton Adams was a youth band leader in the Virgin Islands who became the first black bandmaster in the US Navy. When the USA entered World War I, he and his band were inducted into the Navy. The Governor’s Own is an exciting march in the style of John Philip Sousa.

William Grant Still studied at Wilberforce University (where he later served as band conductor) and Oberlin Conservatory. Dr. Still wrote over 200 pieces of music in a variety of forms, attempting to develop a symphonic style of African American music. His opera, Troubled Island, was the first opera by an African American to be performed by a major American company. Among Dr. Still’s many awards were honorary doctorates from Harvard University and Oberlin College. He was considered by many to be the “dean” of African American composers.

Chandler Wilson serves as director of bands at Stetson University in Florida, and is a composer and guest conductor in high demand. Portraits in Legacy was composed in honor of Richard Brauer, namesake of the Brauer Museum of Art at Valparaiso University, and one of the most important and influential people in VU’s history.

Continuing its tradition of concluding each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along, the Michigan City Municipal Band will close with Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing by James Weldon Johnson.

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.

The second concert of the 158^th season of the Michigan City Municipal Band (MCMB) will be held Thursday, June 11, 7:30p, at the Guy F. Foreman Bicentennial Amphitheater in Washington Park.

The June 11 concert repertoire will be selected from the following:

Railroad Suite by Lyndol Mitchell

Last Ride of the Pony Express by David Shaffer

English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams

As Time Goes By by Herman Hupfeld

Don’t Stop Believin’ by Jonathan Cain

The Thunderer March by John Philip Sousa

Kye Kye Kule Traditional African, arr. James Benjamin Earp

Sing-along:  A Patriotic Festival by Mark Williams

Special guest artist will be soprano soloist Anne Marie Bice. The band will also honor Mary Lee Riley, a recently-retired, long-time member of the band.

Guest soprano soloist Anne Marie Bice will sing As Time Goes By, the classic 1931 Herman Hupfeld song that became famous in the movie Casablanca. The American Film Institute chose As Time Goes By as second, only to Somewhere Over the Rainbow, in its list of the top 100 songs from the cinema. National Public Radio also named As Time Goes By one of its 100 most culturally and historically significant musical works of the twentieth century. The song has been recorded by dozens of artists, from Billie Holliday to Bob Dylan. Ms. Bice will also sing Journey’s 1981 hit song Don’t Stop Believin’. 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.

Mary Lee Riley recently retired from the Michigan City Municipal Band after playing clarinet in the ensemble for 63 years. In honor of Mary Lee’s service to music, the Michigan City Municipal Band, and the city of Michigan City, the band will play all or parts of three of Mary Lee’s favorite band compositions:

Railroad Suite by Lyndol Mitchell, featuring several railroad-themed folk songs.

Last Ride of the Pony Express by David Shaffer, depicting the short-lived Pony Express.

English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams, which presents several well-known melodies.

In 1889, John Philip Sousa was still director of the US Marine Band when he composed The Thunderer for a major event of his Masonic Lodge in Washington, DC. The bugle call in the second section of the march is an excerpt from Mr. Sousa’s 1886 publication The Trumpet and Drum. The Sousa Band performed twice in Michigan City:

Tuesday, October 13, 1914, evening, Orpheum Theater

Monday, November 10, 1924, matinee, Tivoli Theater

The Thunderer was on the program for the Sousa Band tours in 1914 and 1924, so it is likely that it was performed in Michigan City in both of those years.

Kye Kye Kule (pronounced “Chay Chay Koolay”) is a traditional African call & response song, specifically from Ghana in West Africa. It’s often been used with a leader singing the “call”, asking the group to sing the “response” and take part in a physical movement, like hands on shoulders or touch your toes. It’s performed somewhat like the children’s song Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. Between the melodies, the arrangement by American composer James Benjamin Earp allows members of the percussion section to improvise their own rhythms.

Continuing its tradition of concluding each concert with a patriotic audience sing-along, the Michigan City Municipal Band will close with Mark Williams’ inspiring medley of national songs: A Patriotic Festival.

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 reduced parking fee for the band concert.

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.

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.Continue reading→