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Thursday, March 28, 2024

NMB Big Band will jazz up Central Park on Aug. 10

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Above / Right in step with the way the Naperville Municipal Band kicked off its 2017 Summer Concert Series on June 8 in Central Park, the band began playing at 7:30PM Thursday, Aug. 3.

Now that dog days of August are coming to an end, the 65-year tradition of Naperville Municipal Band Conductor and Musical Director Ron Keller also is closing in on the final two performances before the popular band heads indoors for the remainder of the year. At 7:30PM Thurs., Aug. 10, for the second time this season, Keller is turning the stage over to the NMB Big Band with its memorable sounds of jazz under the leadership of Tracy Oliver.

Above / On July 13, the NMB Big Band performed during the sixth weekly Thursday concert when the drawing sponsor was BBM, Inc., and the Bake Sale was hosted by Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley.

Every Thursday evening during the 11-week series, no matter if the weather is predicted to be rain or shine, dry or humid, hundreds of loyal concert-goers fill Central Park to enjoy live music from park benches, their own blankets or folding chairs. Many set up portable tables for picnics. And the band performs tunes to a different theme every week.

Delicious homemade goodies are available at the Gazebo Bake Sale, hosted by a local charitable organization. This week’s Bake Sale is hosted by Naperville North High School Girls Field Hockey.

The weekly concerts also feature a drawing with prizes sponsored by a local business and the NMB. Numbers for the free drawing are printed in 1,000 programs every week. Emcee Ann Lord, now in her 66th year of providing colorful commentary for the concerts, reminds patrons to be sure to pick up a program for a chance to win gift certificates to downtown Naperville businesses and other prizes. This week’s drawing is sponsored by Naperville Bank & Trust.

Central Park is located at 104 E Benton Ave. in downtown Naperville, behind U.S. Bank, northeast of Washington St. and Jefferson Ave.

Concerts are free-of-charge to the public. All are welcome.


PHOTO GALLERY / Click any photo to enlarge photos from Aug. 3, 2017, when BBM Inc. sponsored the weekly raffle and the YMCA hosted the Gazebo Bake Sale.

[shareprints gallery_id=”76735″ gallery_type=”squares” gallery_position=”pos_center” gallery_width=”width_100″ image_size=”small” image_padding=”0″ theme=”dark” image_hover=”false” lightbox_type=”slide” titles=”true” captions=”true” descriptions=”true” comments=”true” sharing=”true”]On Aug. 3,Music to My Ears” featured the William Tell Overture, polka music and the annual presentation of service awards to longtime band members.

Bill Albrecht, pictured on the right, has been playing with the band for 70 years!

Band member Richard Wheeler recognized 17 members for more than 550 years of combined service to the Naperville Municipal Band.

Members honored were Brian Beerman (15 years); Paul Carmignani, Mary Miller, Jennifer Scarborough, Tom Wolff, and Rebecca Yoon (20 years); Johanna Lewis, Beth McCarthy and Chuck Smith (25 years); Linda Lahti and Kathy Steinberg (30 years); Martin Rench and Michelle Ryan (40 years); Jerry Lahti (45 years); Lynn Walter (60 years); Ron Keller (65 years); and Bill Albrecht (70 years).

When Albrecht, who plays the trombone, was named, the entire band and audience gave him a standing ovation.

Then the rain came down and hundreds of umbrellas went up. And the band still played on!


Think dinner and the show!

Check out the patio at Catch 35, located at 35 S. Washington at Van Buren Ave., just across from the path that leads to Central Park.

Catch 35 Naperville has created a special offer for Thursdays prior to the Naperville Municipal Band Concert. Dine at Catch 35 before the show and devour our 3-course Prix Fixe Menu for only $37 and receive a complimentary bag of Catch 35 potato chips to-go for the show. (Mention this offer to your server.)

For more info about the rich history of the Naperville Municipal Band that dates back to 1859, visit www.napervilleband.org.

Meanwhile, plan to meet family, friends and neighbors during one or both of the remaining outdoor summer concerts to experience the longest running tradition in Central Park.

The Great Concerto stage door goes up with “Another Opening, Another Show” promptly at 7:30PM.


Remaining 2017 Summer Schedule

7:30PM Aug. 10 – 10th Concert – NMB Big Band, Joint Jazz Concert
Drawing Sponsor: Naperville Bank and Trust / Bake Sale: NNHS Girls Field Hockey

7:30PM Aug. 17 – 11th Concert – School Daze
Drawing Sponsor: The Naperville Municipal Band / Bake Sale: Congregation Beth Shalom

10:30AM Sept. 4 – Labor Day Parade – Mill Street to Jefferson to Main through Downtown Naperville

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PN Editor
PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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