Members of the Le Mars Municipal Band clarinet section for 2008 are, front row (from left) -- Sarah Shively, Brianna Zandstra, Hannah Barrett and Morgan McMurray. Back row -- Yovnne Hazlettt, Roger Venaas, Eric Flynn, Ryan Meyer and Cliff McMurray. [Click to enlarge]

The final concert of the 2008 summer season will be presented by the Le Mars Municipal Band at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, in Foster Park.

Jerry Bertrand is in his 21st year of conduction the Le Mars Municipal Band. The Rev. Gary Landsness will announce the concert.

The concert will open with "Royal Scotch Highlanders," a march by Iowa's Karl King.

Members of the Le Mars Municipal Band 2008 French horn section are (from left) -- Jane Berger, Mike Berger and Kristen Ahlers. [Click to enlarge]

The band will then play "Trieste Overture" by Pietro Deiro.

Featured soloist for this concert will be tubist Mike Andersen. A native of Miller, S.D., Andersen earned his master's degree in tuba performance from the University of South Dakota. He currently teaches band at Worthington Middle School in Worthington, Minn. Andersen also plays tuba in the South Dakota Symphony and electric bass with the Sioux City Symphony. He is adjunct professor of tuba at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Northwestern College in Orange City. As a freelance electric bassist, Andersen plays Jazz Portraits, a South Dakota Arts Council jazz quintet.

Andersen will perform "The Carioca" by Vincent Youmans.

Members of the 2008 Le Mars Municipal Band low brass section include (from left) -- Emily HIll, Dave Moore and Kris Ohrlund. [Click to enlarge]

The band will continue the concert with "Skyscapes," a composition written by resident composer David Moore. Moore received his bachelor of music education degree from Drake University in 1992. He taught instrumental music in Le Mars for four years. He has taught 5-12 instrumental music in Homer, Neb., for nine years. This fall Moore will take over as director of bands at Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community Schools. Moore is now in his 16th year as a member of both the Le Mars and Sioux City municipal bands.

In addition to his full-time teaching duties, Moore is also active as a composer and clinician. Since 1994 he has been the owner of Moore Music Publishing, specializing in the creation and marketing of new instrumental music. Eight of his compositions for concert band and several others for smaller ensembles have been published and performed internationally.

Moore will conduct his composition, "Skyscapes," which was written for the bands of Odebolt-Arthur Schools in 1997.

Continuing the concert, the band will play "Video Games Live," a suite that includes music created for the video games "Halo," "Civilization IV," and "Kingdom Hearts." Next on the concert will be "Themes Like Old Times II," a medley that includes "Swanee," "For Me and My Gal," "Put Your Arms Around Me Honey," "Pretty Baby," and "Tiger Rag."

The band will conclude the concert with "On the Mall," a march by Edwin Franko Goldman.

Refreshments at this concert will be provided by the Le Mars Area Dialysis Services.

Admission for the concert is free and concertgoers are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets.

With a new funding format in place starting July 1, 2008, by the City of Le Mars, the Le Mars Municipal Band finds itself in need of asking for donations. The City of Le Mars will match up to $7,500 in donations to the band. An average concert costs $1,700. The number of concerts for the summer of 2009 will depend upon the amount of donations received plus the city match. Donations may be given to director Jerry Bertrand, announcer the Rev. Gary Landsness, or any band member.