Peoria Municipal Band

The Peoria Municipal Band, in Peoria, Illinois was founded officially in 1937, but prior to that the band was a professional municipal band, and is one of the oldest municipal bands in the country. The Peoria Municipal Band is funded by the city of Peoria through taxes, which allows hundreds of thousands to enjoy their concerts. The band performs from the beginning of June through August on Sunday and Wednesday nights at the Fred Huber Memorial Bandshell (named after the band's director from 1962-1991) in Glen Oak Park Amphitheatre. During July, the band moves its Wednesday night concerts to the CEFCU Center Stage on the Peoria Riverfront and also adds several Friday night "out about town" concerts with its "mini-band", a smaller version of the group. Memorial Day festivities for the city of Peoria and the Peoria Park District third of July fireworks spectacular also feature the Peoria Municipal Band as an entertainment centerpiece.
The band is currently under the direction of Dr. David Vroman, director of bands at Bradley University and features a band staff that includes a manager, assistant conductor, librarian, and publicist; a commission that includes various community members governs band decisions. A vocal soloist from the Peoria area is featured each week, a Peoria-area celebrity emcee for the Sunday concerts, and there are often instrumental soloists that come from within the band as well. All together, there are over fifty members of the band who make a full 13-week commitment, and an equally large roster of substitute musicians, all of which come from various walks of life.
In the 2004 season, funding for the band was cut in half, prompting the band commission to cut the schedule to Sunday concerts only. Via various activist campaigns such a signs, phone calls, and petitions, the band and community members were able to demonstrate the need for the Peoria Municipal Band and funding was restored for subsequent seasons.

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