Corridor community bands ready for summer

By Diana Nollen, The Gazette

It'

s time to haul out the horns, blow the cobwebs out of the clarinets and shine up the saxes as Corridor community bands gear up for the summer season.

Piccolos, percussion and everything in between have been trumpeting traditions for a century or more in Iowa, home to Music Man Meredith Willson and March King Karl King.

Patriotic pizazz, marches, Broadway show tunes and old favorites still get hundreds of toes tapping and set sounds wafting through the air - and sometimes hanging in the humidity - in town squares and city parks from Marion and Cedar Rapids to Iowa City and Washington.

Most are volunteer bands, open to anyone who wants to play in the free concerts. The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band, however, is a professional, auditioned ensemble that pays its players.

All boast performers from all walks of life - from Orchestra Iowa musicians to school band directors, college professors, engineers, retirees, accountants, students - and reporters. I've played with the Marion Community Bands for more than 25 years, in uptown squares in Marion, Austria and Spain.

IOWA CITY

The Iowa City Community Band - founded in 1958, disbanded after 1972 and reestablished in 1982 - will begin rehearsals May 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at West High School, and continue May 31, June 14, 21, 28 and July 12.

The concert season kicks off at 10 a.m. June 7 on the Iowa Arts Festival main stage. Subsequent performances will take the group to Solon, Coralville, Iowa City's Upper City Park and the Ped Mall downtown, and wrap up with an ice cream social at 4 p.m. July 13 in Upper City Park.

It's a go-to band.

'We go where there is going to be an event in the community and add our little bit to it,” said longtime member Bob Brady, 77, of Iowa City.

The retired educator who served 20 years as the coordinator of music for Iowa City Community Schools, has wielded the baton, tenor and alto saxophones, alto and bass clarinets, oboe and percussion - 'whatever we need that we're missing” - for the community band since moving to the area in 1967. He still serves as band manager and says it's the camaraderie that keeps musicians flocking to these seasonal gigs.

'(It's) the fun of getting your horn out again, playing and reminiscing back to when you used to play all the time in school or college,” he said, ' ...

and the enjoyment of performing for an audience.”

Director for the ensemble is Rob Medd. For information, go to Iccband.org

MARION

Marion's Community Bands, celebrating 33 years of music in Marion Square Park, will bring concert and jazz repertoire to audiences at 7 p.m. June 10 and July 1.

Both groups are open to all ages and rehearse from 7 to 8:15 p.m. in the Marion High School band room - Concert Band on Tuesdays, May 27 to June 24, and the Jazz Band on Thursdays, May 29 to June 25. Director is David Law; Marioncommunitybands.us

WASHINGTON

Washington boasts one of the state's oldest continuous municipal bands, playing every year since 1933. The group strikes up the music at 8 p.m. Thursdays from early June to August in the town's Central Park bandshell.

This year's June 5 launch is extra special, as the band helps herald the city's 175th birthday celebration. Director is Tom McNamar; Facebook.com/pages/Washington-Municipal-Band

CEDAR RAPIDS

While the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band formed in June 1951, the city's outdoor concert tradition stretches all the way back to the 1890s.

Today's professional summer band still makes the rounds of various city parks, beginning June 4 at Greene Square Park downtown and wrapping up Aug. 3 at Bever Park.

Generally performing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays, concerts during the downtown Farmers Market begin at 10 a.m. June 21 and July 19. As a special treat, the band will again provide a star-spangled spectacular Aug. 2 during the Hooverfest fireworks in West Branch. Director is Steve Shanley; Crmuniband.org

Comments: (319) 368-8508; diana.nollen@sourcemedia.net