HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Municipal Band is set to offer two free Christmas concerts in the coming week. The first will be at the Hutchinson Art Center where the Hutchinson Brass Quintet, an ensemble of the Hutchinson Municipal Band, will present a brief concert at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 18, 2022. Then, the Hutchinson Municipal Band will perform a full Christmas Concert on December 21, 2022, at 7:30 pm at Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre.
At the Hutchinson Brass Quintet’s Sunday concert on December 18, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at the Hutchinson Art Center at 5th and Washington, the Quintet will perform holiday favorites including arrangements of many favorite Christmas hymns such as Angels We Have Heard On High, Silent Night, popular holiday classics such as The Christmas Song, It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas and jazz arrangements of such favorites as Let It Snow and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. This concert is free and open to the public. The Hutchinson Brass Quintet is under the leadership of Mr. Daryl Koestel, Hutchinson High School Director of Bands.
Then, on Wednesday, December 21 at 7:30 p.m., Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre at 18 E 1st Avenue in downtown Hutchinson will welcome the full Hutchinson Municipal Band in a special Christmas Concert that is free and open the public. The band will be under the direction of Mr. Dan Brinkley, Reno Valley Middle School Director of Bands. The concert will feature Christmas favorites including Leroy Anderson’s popular classic Sleigh Ride and his traditional band standard A Christmas Festival, holiday music themes from the popular Christmas movies The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone and The Polar Express in Christmas at the Movies arranged by John Moss. Other selections include Clair Johnson’s arrangement of Themes from the NUTCRACKER SUITE, Bobsled Run by Lloyd Conley, Andre’ Justras’ C’EST NOEL! (It Is Christmas!), an arrangement of Paul McCartney’s holiday classic Wonderful Christmas Time and a Sammy Nestico arrangement of Victor Herbert’s March of the Toys from the movie Babes in Toyland.
The Hutchinson Municipal Band is solely funded by the Cultural Activities Fund through Reno County and the City of Hutchinson. Support for the concerts come from the Hutchinson Art Center, Eagle Communications (KWBW, MY93.1, Country 102.9 and HutchPost.com), and the Arts Partner program of the Fox Theatre.
One of the oldest three bands in the state, the Hutchinson Municipal Band has consistently provided free music to the city of Hutchinson and Reno County since 1875. The ensemble consists of musicians from Hutchinson, Reno County, plus surrounding communities and counties.
While some ensemble members are professional educators and/or musicians, the band is primarily composed of community members including business professionals, educators, marketers, administrative assistants, nurses, doctors, lawyers and middle school, high school, and college students.
The Full Concert Band performs each Tuesday through the beginning of the summer, in addition to the 4th of July parade. The Hutchinson Municipal Band organization includes a Concert Band, Parade Band, Salt City Jazz Band, Big Band Explosion, Dixieland Combo, Jazz Combo, Brass Quintet, and Woodwind Combo. These groups are available to play at events around Hutchinson for no-charge. Funding for all Hutchinson Municipal Band activities are provided through funding by the Cultural Activities Fund, a joint fund established by the Reno County and City of Hutchinson governments.
The Hutchinson Municipal Band was founded in 1875. In 1915, the Band became an official entity of the City of Hutchinson through a mill levy established by public vote to support the maintenance of a military-style concert band. As has been the tradition since its founding, all the musicians are local. Most are non-professional musicians with varying backgrounds that represent a cross-section of the Hutchinson community. Since its inception, the Band has provided summer concerts every year, presenting a combination of concert and jazz band performances.
The Concert Band presents band classics, marches, show tunes, movie soundtracks, and patriotic music, while the Salt City Jazz Band presents Big Band and jazz music. In addition, the Hutchinson Municipal Band also offers its service throughout the year with the Hutchinson Brass Quintet. Finally, the Band makes regular appearances throughout the community as requested, including annual participation in numerous community events, including the Patriot's Parade.