Dr. Morgan Jones, who conducted the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band from 1994 to 2010 after a long and distinguished career as director of the Hawkeye Marching Band, passed away on Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at the age of 86.

Celebration of life services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 16, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service (2720 Muscatine Ave.) in Iowa City.

Dr. Steve Shanley, who succeeded Dr. Jones and is the current conductor of the band, shared the following thoughts about his predecessor.

“I was a member of the Municipal Band for 10 years under Dr. Jones’ direction and appreciate his contributions in three main areas–the overall quality of the band, the programming of music, and his interactions with the audience from the stage.

“Under his direction, the band attracted the finest musicians in Iowa, including music professors from colleges and
universities, graduate students, and full-time professional musicians.

“He knew how to program music that the audience would enjoy, but this in and of itself isn’t always the challenge. The challenge is to program music that the audience will enjoy and the musicians will enjoy performing. Dr. Jones added a great deal of repertoire to the library that our musicians and audiences still enjoy to this day.

“The audience loved Dr. Jones’ oral program notes about the pieces, composers, and guest artists. This, in my opinion, is just as important as how good the band sounds! Setting the audience up to know what they will hear and why it’s important is basically selling the ‘product’ to the audience. And he was a masterful salesman!

“The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band would not be the organization it is today without the contributions of Dr. Morgan Jones.”

More information about Dr. Jones is available at the following links:

Obituary
University of Iowa Distinguished Alumni Award biography
History of Municipal Band conductors

The City Band Commission will meet at 7:00 PM on 15 September 2024 in room 102 of Marquis Hall on the Coe College Campus.

Agenda includes:

• Minutes of Previous Meeting
• Financial Reports
  • Explanation of reporting changes as necessary
  • FY25 to date
• Committee Reports
  • Community Engagement
  • Compensation Committee
  • Audition Committee
  • Assets Committee
  • Friends of CRMB
• Old Business
  • BMI license
  • CRMB performance at 2024 IBA conference
• New Business
  • Discussion of venues
• Public Comment

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a City program, service, or activity, should contact the Municipal Band Business Manager at 319-431-9649 or email business AT crmuniband.org as soon as possible but no later than 48 hours before the event.

Hard to believe, but this week marks the end of the Municipal Band season. And, of course, we have a wonderful program, including a special appearance by our friends from Red Cedar Chamber Music.

On Wednesday, July 31, we’ll be in Noelridge Park–and kids can get free ice cream from Moo Moo’s! The That’s So Cheesy food truck will be on hand at Noelridge and on Sunday night in Bever Park as the season comes to a close.

Music starts at 7:30 p.m. both nights–in person or on Facebook.

PROGRAM:
Ride (Samuel Hazo)
Studio Ghibli’s Anime March Medley (Joe Hisaishi, arr. Yo Goto)
Selections from “Moana” (arr. by Jay Bocook)
Red Cedar Csardas (Michael Kimber, arr. Steve Shanley)
Featuring: Carey Bostian (Cello) & Miera Kim (Violin)
Bond…James Bond (arr. Stephen Bulla)
Volver a la Montana (Shelley Hanson)
Circus Days (Frank Piersol)

We know the weather can be–and has been–unpredictable for our concerts. So, this week, we’re taking the shows indoors! Join us in the Washington High School auditorium on Wednesday, July 24, or at Kirkwood’s Ballantyne Auditorium on Sunday, July 28. Music starts at 7:30.

You can also catch the livestream here.

This week, the band enters its Taylor Swift era, performs music from Star Wars, and welcome Young Artist Competition runner up Aaron Piper to the stage for an impressive trombone feature!

PROGRAM
Windsprints (Richard Saucedo)
Grand Concerto for Trombone (Friedebald Grafe, arr. Scotty Shelsta)
Aaron Piper, Trombone, Young Artist Competition Runner-Up
Star Wars (Main Title) (John Williams, trans. Stephen Bulla)
Song for Lyndsay (Andrew Boysen, Jr.)
Neon Nights (Katahj Copley)
Taylor Swift In Concert (arr. Michael Brown)
Of Endless Miles and Empty Rafts (Michele Fernandez)
Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite (Karl King)

Wednesday night, the band plays for the very first time in Hughes Park!

There will be free ice cream from Moo Moo’s Ice Cream Truck for the first 50 kids!

Sunday night, the band will be in Bever Park!
(Okay, that’s maybe one more exclamation point than was strictly necessary!)

The concert will feature…well…check this out:

Join us this week on Wednesday, July 10, at Bowman Woods School and on Sunday, June 14, at Ellis Park. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. and both concerts will be streamed live on Facebook.

This week’s program includes music from the James Bond films and from Moana as well as a circus march by the great Frank Piersol and an impressive, if twitchy, solo by our principal clarinetist, Christine Bellomy.

PROGRAM:

Colas Breugnon Overture (Dimitri Kabalevsky, arr. Beeler)
River Shannon (Julie Giroux)
Selections from “Moana” (arr. by Jay Bocook)
Twitch (Nathan Daughtrey) featuring Christine Bellomy, Clarinet
Barbara Polka (Kovarik)
Volver a la Montana (Shelley Hanson)
Bond…James Bond (arr. Stephen Bulla)
Circus Days (Frank Piersol)

This week, the band celebrates Independence Day with the help of the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale. On Wednesday, July 3, the band will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Guthridge Park in Hiawatha. Then on Sunday, July 7, the band will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Bever Park.

PROGRAM:
National Game (John Philip Sousa)
Highlights from “Jersey Boys” (arr. Michael Brown)
Commando March (Samuel Barber)
Armed Forces Salute (arranged by Bob Lowden)
In the Miller Mood (arranged by Warren Barker)
America the Beautiful (Ward/Bates, arranged by Carmen Dragon) featuring the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale
Battle Hymn of the Republic (arr. Wilhousky) featuring the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale
The Stars and Stripes Forever (John Philip Sousa)

This week, the band’s own Andy Harris will delight you with an exceptional horn performance on Gary Kuo’s ‘Wingspan.’ The band will also perform highlights from Frozen (perfect for a warm summer evening) and from Grease.

Concerts this week are at Noelridge Park on Wednesday, June 26, and Ellis Park on Sunday, June 30. The performances are also streamed live on the band’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CRMuniBand

PROGRAM:
Under the Double Eagle (Josef Wagner)
Incandescence (Adrian Sims)
Wingspan (Gary Kuo) featuring Andy Harris, Horn
Symphonic Highlights from “Frozen” (arranged by Stephen Bulla)
Four Scottish Dances (Malcom Arnold, arr. John Paynter)
King of Terror (W. Paris Chambers)
Selections from “Grease” (Warren Casey & Jim Jacobs, arr. Ricketts)
Slippery Hank Galop (Frank H. Losey, arr. Larry Daehn)