May / Behind the Woodwind With the Naperville Municipal Band

For May 2025, meet Cindy Neumann, clarinetist in the Naperville Municipal Band

Instrument and current role in the NMB: Clarinet and Band Manager

Number of years in the NMB: 16 Years

Past and/or Current Occupation(s): Market Research and Analytics

Hobbies or Interests outside of music: Spending time with family and friends, running, biking, golfing, being outdoors and crafts

How many years have you played your woodwind and what drew you to your woodwind? Clarinet was not my first instrument. I initially played piano, violin and some flute. In 8th grade, I wanted to join band and my dad, who was a music educator, suggested I play the clarinet.

Why have you kept playing all of these years? I played throughout college and was a music education major until my junior year. After getting married and having kids, I took a 20 year break from playing. After seeing the NMB marching in the Memorial Day Parade, I reached out to Ron Keller about joining the band.

Do you play anywhere else? I also play with the Southwest Community Band and take private clarinet lessons.

Who was/is your greatest musical mentor and why? While I’ve been blessed to have many great teachers, my parents were my greatest musical mentors. My dad taught music (band and jazz) for 42 years and my mom taught private flute lessons, so music was central to our lives. We listened to all sorts of classical and jazz recordings and would travel to hear concerts and attend music camps and festivals. As an adult, my dad and I would talk for hours about music while listening to the jazz greats.

What makes the Naperville Municipal Band so special? It is truly an honor to be a part of the Naperville Municipal Band, an organization that has been around since 1859. Not only is the music-making a pure joy, but the people in the band are like family. And our audiences are the best! Seeing Central Park full of appreciative concert-goers in the summer and hearing them sing and clap along with us is inspirational.

What is a favorite memory or funny story from playing in the Naperville Municipal Band? Several years ago, the theme of one of our summer concerts was “School Songs.” An audience member would request a school song and then the band would play it if we could. Someone in the audience requested the Ellsworth School song, which the band didn’t know. Our conductor asked if anyone in the band knew the Ellsworth School song. One trumpet player, who was approaching 90 years and had taught music, raised his hand and casually said, “Yes, I know the song. I wrote it.” The band laughed and cheered as the member stood up and played a solo of the Ellsworth School song.

Editor’s Reminder!

The Naperville Municipal Band will perform its spring concert at 3PM Sun., May 18, on stage in the Neuqua Valley High School Auditorium on 95th Street. 

Celebration of the Classics / 3PM Sun., May 18