Charles City Municipal Band to return this year with one performance, new director

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

After taking its first year off since 1981, the Charles City Municipal Band will return this year with a Fourth of July performance.

Rehearsals are Wednesdays this month at the Charles City High School band room at 7:30 p.m. on June 9, 16, 23 and 30. Those interested in performing with the band just need to show up at the first rehearsal

“Everyone is welcome to come and play,” said municipal band board member Susan Jacob. “We basically play relatively easy music, and people can just show up the first night.”

The band’s conductor this year will be Justin Adam, who is the band director at New Hampton High School. The Independence Day performance will start at 7:30 p.m., behind the Charles City Public library, before the fireworks.

“We decided we would do one concert and see how it goes,” Jacob said. “We’ll find out how comfortable people are playing and attending in a large group.”

There were no municipal band concerts last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band had three concerts in the summer of 2019.

Jacob said that to make certain band members are comfortable, rehearsals will last only about 45 minutes. The band will also follow recommendations issued by the University of Colorado music department, including the use of bell covers and flute shields, which the band board has acquired.

The Charles City Municipal Band board of directors is Jacob, Roxanne Johnson, Joel Thompson, Jake Gassman, Scott Nolte, Teresa Bertelsen and Scott Stroud. The band’s director is paid, while band members are all volunteers.

Charles City’s Municipal Band dates back to the Iowa Band Law, which allowed a tax to provide a community band. The group had municipal bands back before most can remember. The most recent incarnation has been around since 1981.