Beachgoers had been scaling down on the Waukegan Municipal Seaside with the temperature within the mid-80s Tuesday, whereas volleyball video games continued and the Waukegan Band was making ready for its first live performance of the summer season, whereas kids did artwork tasks as their dad and mom awaited the music.
A number of days of spring had been left, however for scores of Waukeganites like Mary Ellen Vanderventer, it was time to get pleasure from a few of their favourite summertime actions as she walked towards the Stiner Pavilion the place the band was assembling.
“It’s opening evening and it’s very cool to be right here,” Vanderventer mentioned. “The music is nice, and so is the view. You may convey your cooler and have a picnic. It’s very nice.”
Anne Linn sat with a bunch of buddies subsequent to a picnic desk she delivered to drink and dine in the course of the live performance. Like Vanderventer, {the summertime} concert events are a practice she continues over time.
“It’s like Ravinia besides it’s in our yard,” Linn mentioned. “I began coming in 1976. It’s so quintessentially Waukegan.”
The Waukegan Band opened its annual season Tuesday beneath the Stiner Pavilion on the metropolis seashore, giving the group of tons of free leisure whereas the Waukegan Park District’s Arts Park program held its fourth occasion of the 12 months.
Coming into his tenth season as music director, Mark Taylor mentioned the theme for the season is summer season romances, with the preliminary live performance of six tunes dedicated to younger love. He tries to develop an eclectic program with quite a lot of music.
“There’s something for everybody at every live performance,” Taylor mentioned. “If you happen to’re a fan of classical music, we now have that. We do jazz, present tunes, (and) have one thing for pop music lovers. We attempt to match all of it in our program.”
Beginning with The Second Suite in F for Navy Band, written in 1922, adopted by tunes from the 2009 Film “Up,” the live performance completed with a medley of Elvis Presley’s best hits and the Looney Tunes Overture.
Whereas Taylor is paid because the music director, the band’s 53 members are volunteers. He mentioned the vary in age is from highschool college students to veterans with 40 years of expertise enjoying within the band.
Taking part in eight concert events in June, July, and August, Taylor mentioned the summer season season is the one performances of the Waukegan Band. They rehearse on Mondays and carry out the live performance on Tuesdays. He marvels at their cohesion.
“They’re nice musicians they usually all work collectively very properly as a band,” Taylor mentioned. “All of them know they will rely on one another, they usually maintain one another.”
Dan Brame, a retired Deerfield Excessive Faculty music instructor, performs the alto saxophone within the band. It’s his fourth 12 months within the ensemble. He mentioned the musicians assist one another. He likes enjoying with the various group.
“It’s enjoyable to be right here making music each week,” Brame mentioned, “It’s superb getting all of us collectively for the concert events.”
Whereas the music is enjoying, Shannon Smith, the park district’s artist in residence on the Jack Benny Middle for the Arts, helps kids with their artwork tasks. This week, she was serving to them paint rocks, which they will take house.
“The youngsters get pleasure from doing the tasks on the concert events,” Smith mentioned, “They’re expressing themselves. The music helps they join with what they’re doing. It’s a unique really feel.”
Many of the individuals are kids, however Smith mentioned sometimes adults take part too. The sound of the music is obvious from the situation of the Arts Park desk.
Arts Park began on June 5. It takes place in a unique park from 6 to 7 p.m. every Thursday. Will probably be at Ben Diamond Park on June 26, Hinkston Park on July 3, Bowen Park on July 10, Range Park on July 17, Corrine J. Rose Park on July 24, and King Park on July 31.
Together with doing tasks at every band live performance, Arts Park additionally involves the park district’s film nights and different particular occasions.
The remaining band concert events are at 7:30 p.m. June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29 and Aug. 5.
