April 11, 2011

The third indoor concert for the 2011 winter season by the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge was held on Sunday afternoon, April 10, on the campus of Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge.  This program served a two-fold purpose.  The first was the presentation of the Karl L. King scholarships.

The second feature of the concert coincides with Iowa Central Community College’s Focus series.  This year, the college has chosen the Caribbean for its cultural emphasis, and the selections on the program will reflect this heritage in music from the region.

Several talented students were auditioned during the day, and the winners were announced during this concert.  Scholarships included $500 scholarships to Iowa Central Community College and a $1,000 scholarship to any 4-year Iowa college or university.  Providing the funds for these awards are The King Band Scholarship fund, Dr. Greg Olson in memory of his parents, the family of the late Steve Helmich, and Peggy and the late Tom Dowd.

Kaily Jo McDonald, percussionist, is a senior at Prairie Valley High School in Gowrie.  She is planning on attending Central College in Pella this fall.  Kaily earned a $50 participation award.  Nick LeWarne, alto saxophonist, is from Marshalltown.  He is currently a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa.  Nick received the $1,000 Karl King Memorial Scholarship.  Danielle Border, clarinetist, is a senior at Fort Dodge Senior High School.  She is planning to attend Iowa Central Community College next fall.  Danielle received a $500 scholarship to Iowa Central.  Zach Sjoberg, clarinetist, is from Webster City.  He is currently a freshman at Iowa Central Community College.  Zach received a $500 scholarship to Iowa Central.  Sarah Scott, not pictured, is a flautist from Webster City.  She is currently a freshman at Iowa Central Community College.  Sarah received a $500 scholarship to Iowa Central.

Other selections by the band’s namesake, Karl L. King, included his the Prestissimo Galop and an overture, The Fountain of Youth.  Also performed were the march, From Tropic to Tropic by Russell Alexander, Jamaican Folk Suite by Harold Walters, Caribbean Fantasy by John J. Morrissey, and Cole Porter’s popular Begin The Beguine.

The Central College Flying Pans Steel Band, directed by Stanley E. Dahl, Assistant Professor of Music from Pella, Iowa, brought a taste of the Caribbean as well.  They have toured extensively throughout the Midwest performing Caribbean music and educational programs for schools and community groups since 2000.  They have also performed and received clinics from some of the leading figures in Caribbean music.

The Flying Pans are able to take you away to the islands with their collection of energetic and soothing sounds of calypso, soca, cha cha, reggae, disco, and rock-n-roll.

The Flying Pans presented a percussion clinic earlier in the afternoon, and then featured their skills in a public pre-concert performance.  They performed with the Karl King band on Barnum and Bailey's Favorite.

The audience and band showed their appreciation to Dan Cassady, the assistant conductor.  Dan is leaving the community at the end of the school year to relocate in Iowa City.   The program ended with the playing of our National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner.