June 22

The June 22nd program included a wide variety of music designed to appeal to all musical tastes. Ohio Division, The University of Chicago and Royal Scotch Highlanders, were the Karl King marches performed.  In addition, one of Karl King’s famous galops, Walsenberg, was heard.

The evening’s classical offerings included Raymond Overture (The Queen’s Secret) by Ambrose Thomas, and La Boheme, by Giacomo Puccini, a march paraphrase based on “Musetta’s Waltz Song”.  Ambrose Thomas was born in France, and attended the Paris Conservatory.  The Raymond Overture, written in 1851, has become one of the most popular in French opera.   Puccini was born and educated in the schools and music conservatories of Italy. His opera, La Boheme, was written and premiered in 1896, and has continued in popularity to this day.

Popular, well-known selections on the concert included a tribute to musical legend, Frank Sinatra, with Sinatra In Concert, and Oh, Lady Be Good from the pen of George Gershwin.  2008 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Frank Sinatra, and was observed earlier this year with the release of a postage stamp in his honor.

The King Band’s Dixieland Combo, always a popular treat, will make a special appearance performing the Original Dixieland Concerto.  Members of this group include Ardella Hein of Fort Dodge on Clarinet, Alan Bridge of Storm Lake on Tenor Saxophone, Tim Miller of Humboldt on Trumpet, Dan Cassady of Fort Dodge on Trombone, G. B. Evans of Webster City on Tuba, and Jeremy Smith of Fort Dodge on Trap Set.

June 29

This program featured Karl King’s marches University of Idaho and Sir Henry, along with the classic Johann Strauss’ Radetzky March and E. F. Goldman’s favorite, On The Mall.  Also on the program was one of Karl King’s exciting circus galops, Homestretch, along with Henry Fillmore’s entertaining novelty, Lassus Trombone.

Music from the masters included W. A., Mozart’s overture to the opera, Marriage Of Figaro, and Richard Wagner’s beautiful Pilgrim’s Chorus, from the opera Tannhauser.  Lighter music included Leroy Anderson’s waltz, Belle Of The Ball, and the Broadway Show-stoppers Overture, arranged by Warren Barker.  This medley of unforgettable moments from the Broadway stage included Everything’s Comin’ Up Roses, People, With A Little Bit Of Luck, On A Clear Day, Try To Remember, and That’s Entertainment.

Kathy Yoakam, French Horn player from Humboldt, was the special guest soloist for the evening.  Ms. Yoakam is a long time King Band member, and also performs with the popular Brass Quintet, Jive For Five.  She is a graduate of Iowa State University and is currently the 5th-6th Grade Band instructor for the Humboldt Schools.

Ms. Yoakam performed Rondo, from Concerto No. 1, op. 11, by the German composer, Richard Strauss.  Strauss was himself a fine French Horn player in the Munich Symphony for many years.  Sunday's performance was the premier performance of this new arrangement for Band.  Ms. Yoakam also performed an old standard, Love’s Old Sweet Song, by James Molloy.  Both these songs were arranged by Andrew Glover from the C. L. Barnhouse Company in Oskaloosa.  Mr. Glover will be in Fort Dodge on July 20 to guest-conduct the King Band.