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of Central Illinois with a level of
musical excellence, innovation,
imagination, and outreach new to
the region. Recruiting the finest
among the region’s professional
musicians, our performances
will vary in musical styles and
periods, ensemble type and
size, and venue. Our concerts
will challenge the stereotypes
of classical music performance,
inviting audiences to participate
in an informal, spontaneous, and
interactive experience.
“The HFO is fundamentally
committed to balancing artistic,
educational, and financial goals
in a way which respects the
differing expertise, roles, and
responsibilities of its partners:
Directors, Musicians, Staff, Trust-
ees, Sponsors, and Concertgoers.
We are committed to seeking
out partners among local and
regional charitable organizations
in order that they may share in
outreach and financial benefit
from our concerts.”
A departure from the normal
symphony concerts is that Heart-
land Festival Orchestra members
don’t wear tuxedos and formals
as Commanday said he wanted
to “remove the stuffy stereotype
of classical music.” He encour-
ages the audiences to dress in
“classy casual” when they attend
a concert.
The Heartland Orchestra
plays its concerts at Five Points
in Washington. Its season runs
along a similar time frame as the
Peoria Symphony, from Septem-
ber into June. The five-concert
2012-2013 season will open Sept.
8 and tickets and subscriptions
are on sale through the Five
Music, 7728 N. Crestline Drive
in Peoria.
Peoria Pops Orchestra
This group, which is under
the guidance of the Peoria Park
District and conductor Harold
Greene, has a rather simple
motto: “We Make Music Fun.”
The Pops Orchestra stands to
enhance the music abilities of its
members, starting with junior
high-age students to adults, by
allowing them to play with a full
orchestra. The goal is that the ex-
perience will help them improve.
“The Orchestra specializes in
giving those who have not played
for awhile a place to perform
and bring back those wonderful
music skills of their past. Pops
also has a Swing Band and a Dix-
ieland Band in which members
can participate. Pops provides its
members with the opportunity of
performing in public at retire-
ment and extended care facili-
ties as well as town festivals, the
Illinois State Fair and our ever
popular holiday program which
is performed annually in Decem-
ber,” the park district website
said.
Membership in the orchestra is
$30 a year. The Peoria Pops Or-
chestra consists of three ensem-
bles: the Orchestra, Swing Band,
and also a Dixieland Band.
The orchestra includes a full
string section, brass, woodwinds,
and percussion. They play
anything from musicals to classic
band music to jazz classics and
modern movie scores.
The Swing Band plays in the
big band style and includes
trumpets, saxes, trombones and
standard rhythm section.
The Dixieland Band is a small-
er group that plays Dixieland jazz
with varying instrumentation,
but usually including trumpet,
clarinet, trombone, saxes and
piano bass and drums. They play
on the Spirit of Peoria river boat
and other local functions.
Peoria Municipal Band
Each summer, twice a week,
the Peoria Municipal Band gives
free concerts; on the riverfront
on Wednesday nights and at the
Fred Huber Memorial Band Shell
at Glen Oak Park on Sundays.
It is common on Sunday
evenings in the summer to see
people of all ages lying on blan-
kets in front of the band shell,
enjoying the music.
Under the direction of Dr.
David Vroman, the municipal
band selects its members through
auditions and many are local mu-
sic teachers. The band will play
more than 500 pieces, including
marches, show tunes, waltzes and
other styles. Each concert features
a vocal soloist.
The band was formed in 1937
and has entertained audiences for
free ever since.
Its current season, which began
in May, goes until Sunday, Aug.
12.
23
thePeorian.com
The Present
Dr. David Vroman conducts the
Peoria Municipal Band during a
performance in the summer of
2011 at the Glen Oak Park Pavillion.