Palatine Concert Band to Perform at Fred P. Hall Amphitheater

After a brief break for the Fourth of July holiday, the Palatine Park District Sounds of Summer free concert series will resume on July 11th with a performance by the Palatine Concert Band. The Palatine Concert Band will present an evening of light summer fare at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater, 262 E. Palatine Road, Palatine, a venue known to many as “Little Ravinia.” Music lovers from the northwest suburbs come to the amphitheater throughout the summer with full picnic fare including tables, chairs, blankets and a wide variety of food and drink.

The performance at 8pm on July 11 is the second of three that will be performed by the Palatine Concert Band this summer at Fred P. Hall Amphitheater. This talented musical group can trace its history in Palatine back to 1875 when the Palatine Military Band was a 15 member group known as “The Melody Toast of the Northwest Suburbs.” At the time, the band practiced in Knickrene’s cabinet shop. In 1900, the band grew to be an ensemble of 21 musicians who traveled to perform anywhere along the P.L.Z. & W. railroad line. By 1906, the band was performing every Friday evening at the corner of Brockway and Slade streets.

The band was dissolved through the years of the depression and the aftermath of WWII, and did not perform from 1935 to 1955 when a group of 18 musicians played in the Palatine Centennial Parade. They played as the Palatine Military Band, performing on a wagon pulled by a truck. This effort to revitalize the group was led by Robert Eppley.

In 1958, the band branched out to include its first female musicians and by 1960 the band had 36 members. In that same year, the band name changed to the Palatine Village Band and in 1963 the group became known as the Palatine-Northwest Community Band. In the early 60’s the band was supported by funds from the Village of Palatine and the Palatine Park District, and the band first performed at Cutting Hall in 1964. 

In 1966, the Palatine Village Band had grown to number 50 musicians, and by 1969 there were 60 members. In 1976 the band was renamed as the Palatine Concert Band and by 1978 the band included 75 members. The Palatine Concert Band currently has 90 members and is under the direction of Conductor Ronald H. Polancich, a faculty member at Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts, Chicago, Illinois. A native of Joliet, Illinois, he received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Augustana College and his Master of Music Degree in Conducting from Northwestern University.

According to the group’s website, “The Palatine Concert Band is a volunteer adult organization. The ensemble provides an outlet for both avocational and professional musicians to perform fine wind band literature, and serves the Chicagoland area as a musical organization of high quality.” The group is comprised of music lovers and teachers from around the area, and they practice on Tuesday evenings at the Palatine Community Center. The band fills openings through an audition process and currently is seeking to fill the following positions in the ensemble:  Oboe and percussion (competence in mallets, snare and drumset required). For more information, contact personnel@palatineconcertband.org.

On July 11 at 8:00pm, the Palatine Concert Band will perform the following program:

Star Spangled Banner — Francis Scott Key/arr. by Steve Smith
Hoe Down from “Rodeo” — Aaron Copland/arr. by Mark Rogers
Foster’s America — David R. Gillingham

1. A Penny for Your Thoughts – 1861
2. Beautiful Dreamer – 1862
3. If You’ve Only Got a Moustache -1864 / Gentle Lena Clare – 1862

Pomp and Circumstance, Op. 39 — Edward Elgar/arr. by Paul Sterrett        conducted by Gordon Palmer
Satchmo! — arr. by Ted Ricketts
Commando March — Samuel Barber
Three Ayres from Gloucester — Hugh M. Stuart
        conducted by Michael Lipinski
Star Spangled Salute — George M. Cohan/arr. by James Barnes
Over the Rainbow — Harold Arlen/arr. by Jerry Brubaker
America the Beautiful — Samuel Ward/arr. by Carmen Dragon 

The Palatine Concert Band will perform their third summer program of the year at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater on August 1st at 8pm. For more information, visit palatineconcertband.org.

The mission of Palatine Park District is to provide a variety of safe, enjoyable and affordable parks and recreation facilities and activities that will enhance the quality of life by promoting good health and well-being for all residents and visitors of the Palatine Park District. Blog author Joan Scovic is the Marketing & Sponsorship Chair for Palatine Park District.

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