August 11 is the official end of the “dog days” of summer. Also, the day before will mark the end of a long and distinguished musical career. Ron Keller will be conducting his last Naperville Municipal Band Concert on Thursday, August 10, 2023 – “Prelude to Fall.”
Century Walk, our 150-year-old Band and Dr. Keller are no strangers. In fact, our very first (of 53) locations for public art in 1996 at the U.S. Bank on Washington Street is “Naperville’s Own” which is a relief sculpture showing six musicians marching through time near the old “gazebo” bandstand that was used for band performances from the 1890s until 1926. In fact, the band has played at many of our dedications of public art.
So, if you’ve weathered the “dog days,” journey to the Community Concert Center in Central Park and take in what will truly be the end of an era and wish Director Keller and the Band continued success. You might even get there a little bit early before the hanger door opens so you can see how he was portrayed in our Mural “The Great Concerto” (location 27) where in 1965 he is waiting and watching his predecessor from the wings, Elmer Koerner.
About Century Walk
The Century Walk Corporation, founded in 1996, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing public art to Naperville, to add beauty to the town, build community and bridge generations by paying tribute to over 200 years of Naperville history through a diverse collection of murals, mosaics, sculptures and more.
Learn more about 50-plus pieces of Naperville public art at www.centurywalk.org.
