Suffice it to say, Dr. Bruce Moss Moss does not like to toot his own horn, but with this being his 45th summer conducting the Wheaton Municipal Band, well, he’s bursting his buttons with pride.
Dr. Bruce Moss talks to the audience in 2021, when the city opened its new bandshell.
“At the risk of sounding immodest, I can comfortably say this is really a unique and spectacular group with a huge following,” Moss says. “I have been most fortunate to be their leader all of these years.”
Officials with the City of Wheaton agree. In announcing a pair of special concerts this week — recognizing Moss — they described the band this way: “The Wheaton Municipal Band under the leadership of Bruce Moss has developed into an ensemble that is widely renowned as one of the finest adult bands in the world today. The ensemble was featured with the U.S. Marine Band in the PBS documentary “If You Knew Sousa” which has been aired internationally as part of the “American Experience” series.
“The band has performed at leading conferences over the years,” they add, “including a recent third appearance at the prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago.”
Esteban Batallan and John Hagstrom, first and second trumpets with the Chicago Symphony will play in Saturday’s concert.
The band — which is celebrating its 95th season — performs outdoors every Thursday night during the summer in Wheaton’s downtown Memorial Park. Its concerts regularly draw more than 2,000 fans and up to 3,000 for special concerts and its Independence Day celebration.
This Thursday’s concert — at 7:30 p.m. — will feature favorite selections from both audience members and Dr. Moss. A special finale concert for Moss’s 45th anniversary will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in Edman Chapel at Wheaton College. The star-studded concert is free.
The concert will include two former students of Dr. Moss: Lt. Col. Ryan Nowlin, Director of the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington and John Hagstrom, second trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Also on the program will be Esteban Batallan, principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Master Sargent Kevin Bennear, vocal soloist with the United States Marine Band.
The Wheaton Municipal Band typically draws 2,000 people on Thursday nights.
Dr. Moss first began conducting the acclaimed Wheaton Municipal Band in 1980 while on the music faculty of York High School in Elmhurst. He continued returning to Wheaton in the summer months to conduct the ensemble even when his career took him to become band conductor at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
As for why Dr. Moss keeps coming back, it’s simple, he says.
“It’s a very good example of the joy of music,” Dr. Moss says. “That’s why I keep coming back. The players are serious about playing well and we keep trying to make it better.”
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