The Peoria Municipal Band, under the direction of Dr. David Vroman, will begin their 80th season of summer concerts on Sunday, June 4th at 7:00 p.m. in the Glen Oak Park Amphitheater in Peoria, Illinois and follow up in the Peoria Warehouse District on Wednesday, June 7th. The 2017 Peoria Municipal Band Summer Season consists of 24 concert performances by a band of 50 musicians. All concerts are free of charge and parking is adjacent to the performing venues.
The Sunday, June 4th concert is opening night! The Peoria Fire Department Color Guard will present the colors and Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis will narrate the first half of the program. Illinois State University Professor Michelle Vought is the featured vocalist and the Peoria Municipal Band Trombone Four will be at the front of the stage for their rendition of Lassus Trombone.
Sunday evening concerts in Glen Oak Park this summer will be June 4, 11, 18, 25, July 9, 16, 23, 30, August 6 and 13. The famed Glen Oak Park Fireworks Concert will be Monday, July 3rd.
Wednesday evening performances are presented at the corner of Water and State Street each Wednesday evening at 7:00 p.m. These performances will be June 7, 14, 21, 28, July 12, 19, 26 August 2 and 9.
Three special Friday evening performances will be given this season. The first is at St. Philomena’s Church and School on Friday June 30th at 7:00 p.m. Then on Friday July 21st the band will perform at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie and on Friday, July 28th the band will perform at the Alumni Quad on the Bradley University Campus.
The Peoria Municipal Band was formed in 1937 through the efforts of Local 26 of the American Federation of Musicians and interested citizens. Prior to 1937 the band was a professional municipal band complete with management and “Soloists of National Reputation”. Current band members come from all walks of life; many are currently music teachers in the local schools. They are selected by audition and then commit to a full season of rehearsals and performance. Hundreds of thousands of people have enjoyed their music since 1937. Today, with the support of the city, the band continues the long-standing tradition of excellence in music.