This week, Ryan Smith–perhaps best known as a jazz musician–will be featured on a classical saxophone solo and the band will present “Roma,” a challenging piece by Valerie Coleman that mixes styles from Latin jazz to Turkish music.
Other selections this week include an arrangement from Disney’s “Obi Wan Kenobi” series, a Duke Ellington medley, and Leroy Anderson’s “Belle of the Ball.”
The music starts at 7:30 p.m. on both Wednesday and Sunday nights with the first concert at the McGrath Amphitheatre and the second at Ellis Park. If you can’t attend in person, watch the livestream at www.facebook.com/crmuniband.
You have three chances to hear the Municipal Band this week:
Tuesday, July 4: Guthridge Park in Hiawatha — It’s our patriotic program featuring a wonderful performance by Young Artist Competition winner Jenna Scherrman, John Williams’ marches for the Star Wars series, the Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale, and of course plenty of music celebrating America! You can join us and still make it to downtown CR for the fireworks.
Wednesday, July 5: Kirkwood Community College — Find us in the Cedar Hall parking lot for an evening of wonderful music.
Sunday, July 9: Bever Park — We’ll repeat the Wednesday night concert in our usual lovely spot in the park.
We were inside at Kennedy High School on June 28 for our patriotic performance. We’re looking forward to performing this music again on the Fourth of July!
It is time for one of the Municipal Band’s most anticipated concerts of the summer! Celebrate America with us on Wednesday, June 28, at Kennedy High School Auditorium (venue changed due to wildfire air quality issues) in Cedar Rapids and TUESDAY, July 4, at Guthridge Park in Hiawatha. Both performances will stream live on the band’s Facebook page.
The program will include:
Fanfare Prelude on “God of Our Fathers” (James Curnow) Concerto for Flute and Wind Orchestra, Mvt. 1 (Derek Bourgeois) Armed Forces Salute (arranged by Bob Lowden) Salute to Louis Armstrong (arr. Eric Osterling) America the Beautiful (Ward/Bates, arranged by Carmen Dragon) Star Wars – The Marches (John Williams, arr. Jerry Brubaker) The Greatest Generation (Robert W. Smith) The Stars and Stripes Forever (John Philip Sousa)
Join the Muncipal Band for concerts at Johnson STEAM Academy and Ellis Park this week. Dr. Steve Shanley takes to the podium for the first time this season!
The Wednesday night concert starts at 6:30 p.m. with a prelude concert featuring the young students from the Harmony School of Music. The Muni Band takes the stage at 7:30 p.m.
AYO (Katahj Copley) Revival March (John Phillip Sousa) Selections from “Phantom of the Opera” (Andrew Lloyd Webber, arr. Warren Barker) Napoli (Hermann Bellstedt, arranged by Donald Hunsberger) – Ft. David Lang, Euphonium Tuted Toucan Can-Can (Erika Svanoe) Highlights from “Brave” (arranged by Sean O’Loughlin) The Screamer (Fred Jewell)
Selections from “Phantom of the Opera” are part of this week’s program.
Join the Municipal Band this week at Cleveland Elementary School (not the park!) on Wednesday, June 14, and at the McGrath Amphitheatre on Sunday, June 18. The Muni Band performances (which will be livestreamed on Facebook) will begin at 7:30 p.m. The New Horizons Band will perform at 6:30 p.m. ahead of the Sunday night Muni Band concert.
This week, Jennifer Tiede, co-director of bands at Linn-Mar High School, will be on the podium. Bassist and vocalist Blake Shaw will be the special guest on two numbers–including one Shaw himself arranged for the Muni Band. The vocalist for the Star Spangled Banner and the Cedar Rapids Song of Dedication will be recent Linn-Mar grad Kyra Kanz.
Bassist, vocalist, and arranger Blake Shaw joins the band this week.
The program will include:
Declaration Overture by Claude T. Smith Midway March by John Williams, arranged by John Moss Moon River by Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer, arranged by Michael Brown Willow Weep For Me by Ann Ronell, arranged by Blake Shaw Handel in the Strand by Percy Grainger, arranged by John Philip Sousa Blue Mambo by Michael Sweeney Radetzky March by Johann Strauss, arranged by Alfred Reed Selection from “The Greatest Showman” arranged by Paul Murtha Hosts of Freedom by Karl L. King
The Cedar Rapids Municipal Band kicks off a new season with a concert on Wendesday, June 7 at The History Center and a performance on Sunday, June 11 at Bever Park. The Muni Band plays at 7:30 pm on both evenings; the Sunday night performance will feature a 6:30 pm prelude concert by the Cedar Rapids Metro Youth Ensemble. The Metro Youth Ensemble is sponsored by Coe College.
Aaron Nuss, co-director of bands at Linn-Mar High School, will be on the podium for week one. Hashim Taylor, director of the CR Parks and Recreation Department, will lead the band in a performance of Karl King’s “Iowa Band Law.” Emily Brennom, a graduate of Linn-Mar High School, will sing the National Anthem and the Cedar Rapids Song of Dedication. Ann Bradfield, an associate professor of saxophone at the University of Northern Iowa, will be the featured soloist.
Ann Bradfield will join the band for Serenade for Alto Saxophone
Hounds of Spring by Alfred Reed Serenade for Alto Saxophone by Frank Bencriscutto — featuring Ann Bradford Harry’s Wondrous World by John Williams/trans. by Paul Lavender Gladiolus by Christian Maakestad Danzon from “Fancy Free” by Leonard Bernstein/arr. Jay Bocook L’ Inglesina by Davide Delle Cese Pixar Movie Magic arr. Michael Brown
Christian Maakestad, composer of Gladiolus, is a 2023 Linn-Mar High School graduate who will study composition and percussion performance at TCU.
Pixar Movie Magic features music from Toy Story, Up, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, and Cars.
All Municipal Band performances are free and open to the public. They are also livestreamed on the band’s Facebook page.
The City Band Commission will meet on Saturday, 1 April 2023 at noon in the band room at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids.
Agenda:
Call to Order
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Financial Report
Current FY23
Budget Amendment FY23
FY24 information
Committee Reports (as available)
Community Engagement
Compensation
Auditions (to be held immediately after the meeting)
Assets
Old Business
New Business
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.
Folks, our annual auditions happen soon! They will be on Friday evening (31 March) and Saturday daytime (1 April). The auditions consist almost entirely of sight reading. As such, the process is about 7 minutes for winds, and 14 for percussion. We have known openings for Flute and Clarinet, but we are always in need of substitute players, so auditions on all instruments are open.
Slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot guarantee any particular time or day for an audition.
Registration for the 2023 Young Artist Competition is now OPEN! This competition is open to woodwind, brass, and percussion students in grades 9-12 who live or attend school in Linn County and participate in their school band program. Applicants should prepare a solo or solo excerpt 5-6 minutes long. We recommend the use of an accompanist, but this is not required.
The winner will be a featured guest soloist during one week of the CRMB 2023 season. Winner will also receive the Margaret Kegel Memorial Scholarship, worth $650. Runners-up may also be named, winning a cash prize of $250.
Eligible students may register for an audition time at tinyurl.com/yz7445mfor by contacting CRMB Conductor Steve Shanley at sshanley@coe.edu.
The complete flyer can be found by clicking here. Please share it with interested parties! Registration closes on 8 April, so don’t delay.
CRMB Auditions March 28, 2025 at 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
CRMB Auditions March 29, 2025 at 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
2025 CRMB Young Artist Competition Registration DEADLINE April 4, 2025
Register for an audition time at https://tinyurl.com/2rjcxxem or by contacting Cedar Rapids Municipal Band conductor, Steve Shanley, at sshanley@coe.edu.
