Throughout the year, “Behind the Horn” is an opportunity to feature the talented and dedicated members of the City’s band, always providing a behind-the-scenes look of lifelong musicianship.
This month, rather than focusing on one musician, it’s our pleasure to highlight almost 200 musicians from two renowned community ensembles: The Naperville Municipal Band and the DuPage Symphony Orchestra. On Thurs., July 23, the NMB will be thrilled to share the Naperville Community Concert Center stage with DSO as they present an evening of music showcasing musicians that have been playing since childhood. They have all chosen different life paths, but still make music a core part of their lives.
Mari Ullrick, Strategic Director of Operations and Engagement for the DuPage Symphony Orchestra writes, “For many of our musicians, the DSO is much more than a place to perform. It is an opportunity to challenge themselves artistically, collaborate with talented fellow musicians, and remain connected to a lifelong passion for music. Our orchestra brings together people from all walks of life—an ice-skating instructor, a county judge, architects, engineers, entrepreneurs, and current and retired music educators, among many others. Despite their different careers and backgrounds, they dedicate countless hours each season because they believe in the power of music to inspire, connect, and strengthen our community.”
Emily Binder, Director of the Naperville Municipal Band shares similar sentiments, “Music allows us to connect with so many things that are essential to the human experience. I know that the musicians in the DSO and NMB love playing because music empowers them to tell stories, highlight other cultures and places in the world, and convey emotions that words cannot adequately express. Most importantly, however, music brings people together and organically creates “us” moments with our audiences every time we play. The downbeat of a concert is the beginning of a shared experience in which the world gets a little smaller, the troubles of the day disappear for a while, and division melts away. Music has an extraordinary way of creating unity.”
Beginning at 6:30PM Thurs., July 23, with Maestra Barbara Schubert on the podium, the DSO continues its America250 celebration with a colorful array of medleys, featuring lively cowboy tunes, traditional spirituals, and stirring patriotic melodies. The DSO’s performance is presented as a prelude to the NMB concert at 7:30PM. NMB Associate Conductor Bill Jastrow and the band will be presenting “Creature Features” with repertoire showcasing creatures from land, air, and sea.
Bring a picnic dinner and enjoy a wonderful night of music and lifelong musicianship in Central Park.
