MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
The Hutchinson Municipal Band and the Reno Choral Society are preparing for a one-of-a-kind performance celebrating America's 250th anniversary with a free concert at the Fox Theatre on Tuesday, June 30.
Charles Johnston, Vice President of Personnel for the Hutchinson Municipal Band, said the collaboration has been months in the making and represents one of the most ambitious performances in the band's recent history.
"This is something really special for the community," Johnston said. "We've been working on this literally since February."
The concert marks the nationwide observance of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Johnston said he approached Reno Choral Society Director Scott Logan and President Ellen Lane with the idea of combining the two organizations into a single patriotic performance.
Together, the ensembles have invested hundreds of hours preparing the program, which Johnston believes will be a memorable experience for audiences.
The evening will feature performances by both groups individually before they join together for several large-scale works, including Battle Hymn of the Republic, An American Hymn, an arrangement of America the Beautiful, and a rare performance of The Stars and Stripes Forever with a full chorus.
"You don't hear that very often," Johnston said of the Sousa classic with choir accompaniment. "It's just going to be a very special event."
The municipal band's portion of the program will highlight both patriotic and Kansas-themed music, including Home on the Range, a medley from The Wizard of Oz, Sousa's Semper Fidelis, and selections reflecting the Civil War, the Vietnam War and broader themes of American history. The Reno Choral Society will present a variety of American spirituals, early American folk music and Shaker melodies.
Unlike the municipal band's regular summer concerts, which are typically rehearsed the evening of the performance, this concert requires multiple rehearsals, including a joint rehearsal with the choir.
"It's an opportunity for the municipal band to be a little bit more polished than sometimes we are," Johnston said. "There's nothing better than making music with the municipal band, and to be given the extra opportunity to play and get better, it's just the best."
The Fox Theatre provides an ideal venue for the performance, Johnston said. Although the band has performed there before, including a Christmas concert several years ago, appearances at the historic theater remain relatively rare.
Johnston credited the Fox Theatre's partnership with the municipal band for making the free concert possible.
Despite nearly 100 performers sharing the stage—including band members, choir, percussionists and a grand piano—Johnston said the biggest challenge has been logistics rather than acoustics.
"The benefit of overcoming that challenge is that it's just going to sound glorious in this hall," he said.
Doors will open at 7 p.m., with the concert beginning at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free, continuing the Hutchinson Municipal Band's tradition of providing free performances to the community since 1875. Johnston encouraged attendees to arrive early, anticipating a large crowd.
Following the Fox Theatre performance, the Hutchinson Municipal Band will conclude its regular 2026 summer concert season with a performance July 7 at 8 p.m. in the recital hall at Stringer Fine Arts Center. The band will also perform during Hutch Rec's Final Friday concert series later this summer.