June 6

The opening concert was planned in keeping with the Frontier Days weekend.   Several marches were heard, including Yellowstone Trail, Mountain Trails, and Pan American by Karl L. King, along with The Black Horse Troop by John Philip Sousa.  Also included on the program was The Thunderbolt Galop by Fred Huffer.

The evening’s overture was William Tell, by the Italian composer Gioacchino Antonio Rossini.  This overture is among the best of its kind and is one of the most popular in the entire range of orchestral literature.  The exciting closing theme is one that will certainly be recognizable by nearly everyone.  Additional selections included the Suite of Old American Dances by Robert Russell Bennett, including the Western One-Step, Schottische, and Cake Walk, along with a medley of early American songs entitled Yankee Rhythm, as arranged by M. L. Lake.

A special feature of this concert was the Good Old Days Sing-A-Long.  This medley includes many well-known songs from an earlier era, and the audience was encouraged to participate.  Shari Netz, from Manson, was the song leader.  Shari has sung with the King Band on several occasions, along with many other vocal groups in the area.  She currently works as a legal secretary in Fort Dodge and Rockwell City.

The concert closed with the playing of our National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.

June 13

The second concert of the 2010 season featured patriotic selections to celebrate the Flag Day holiday.  Marches on the evening program included Vanguard of Democracy by Karl L. King, C. E. Duble’s Old Glory Triumphant, and John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever.

This concert also included America – Overture on National Airs, a fantasy/overture based on songs that from the earliest years of the United States, along with An American Celebration by Larry Neeck.  On the lighter side was a medley of popular songs written by George M. Cohan, entitled A Cohan Salute.  A special tribute was made to the members of our military with the playing of the Armed Forces Salute.

Paul Bloomquist, director of bands at Iowa Central Community College, was the special guest conductor.  Mr. Bloomquist graduated from Southeast Webster High School, and earned his BA degree from Simpson College.  He has recently earned his Master’s degree from the American Band College.

Mr. Bloomquist conducted Those In Peril On The Sea by Andrew Glover, based on the Navy Hymn, and The Spinning Baton, a march written by his late father, Marlan Bloomquist.

The members of the Percussion section were featured on Paul Yoder’s arrangement of Dazzling Drums.  These performers included Jeremy Smith, Fort Dodge; Cathy Moklebust, Eagle Grove; and Rollie Jenson, Pocahontas.

George Mack, a Jolley area resident, again provided flags small American flags to wave at appropriate times during the hour-long concert.  The Star-spangled Banner, our national anthem, closed the concert.