The Naperville Municipal Band’s Fall Concert, “The Classics & Sousa,” will be held at 3PM Nov. 3 at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Admission is free.
The band will play John Phillip Sousa selections in honor of the anniversary of the maestro’s birthday, which is in November. The concert will open with “The Free Lance on to Victory” by Sousa and end with two Sousa marches, “The Liberty Loan” and “Stars and Stripes Forever,” also known as our national march.
The band will play a song dedicated to Naperville’s founder titled the “Captain Joe Naper March,” written by the late Elmer A. Koerner, former director of the Municipal Band, and Ron Keller, current director of the band. While the band pays homage to the town founder, a short video will be playing of the Joseph Naper sculpture dedication at the Naper Homestead on Aug. 23, produced by Naperville Community Television, Channel 17.
Other concert highlights include a clarinet solo by Jason Thomson and vocalist Catherine Lord will sing two Gershwin favorites.
Ann Lord, mistress of ceremonies, will present insightful introductions to the musical selections that will include: “Der Freischutz Overture” by Carl M. von Weber; “Scene & Air” by Michael Bergson; “Eine Kleine Nachtmusic” by W.F. Mozart; “March Electric” by Giuseppe Creatore; “Peer Gynt Suite” by Edward Grieg; an excerpt from “Lucia” by Gaetano Donizetti; and the “Hunting Polka” by Johann Strauss.