The Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge will open its 2023 summer season on Sunday at the Karl L. King Band Shell in Oleson Park. Concert time is 7:30 p.m. and will be preceded by an ice cream social served by the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, starting around 6:30 p.m. Persons attending these concerts should bring their own lawn chairs, since no public seating is provided.

These concerts are free to all, and are provided as a public service by the City of Fort Dodge. Directing the band again this season will be Jerrold P. Jimmerson, with Dan Cassady as the assistant conductor and Paul Bloomquist as the announcer.

This opening concert will include music to celebrate the Frontier Days weekend in Fort Dodge. Marches will be the main part of this first concert. On the program will be “Mountain Trails” and “Gallant Zouaves,” both written by Karl L. King, along with W. Paris Chambers’ “Buffalo Bill’s Equestrian March” and John Philip Sousa’s classic, “Sabre and Spurs,” written for the U.S. Cavalry. An exciting galop, “Rough Riders,” by Karl King, is included as well.

Classical offerings for the evening include “Light Cavalry Overture,” written in 1866 by Franz von Suppe, the father of the Austrian operetta. This overture was one of von Suppe’s most popular and recognizable works. Sounds range from military melodies with vigorous rhythms to delicate Hungarian-like folk songs. Also on the program will be Ferde Grofe’s classic, “Mississippi Suite,” descriptive of early days in the South.

On the lighter side will be music arranged by Robert Hawkins from the epic motion picture, “How The West Was Won;” and a beautiful arrangement of the early American folk song, “Shenandoah.” In addition, highlights from the popular Broadway musical and motion picture, “Oklahoma,” will be heard. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the premier for this hit musical back in 1943.

Each concert always closes in the traditional way, with the playing of our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In the event of inclement weather at the starting time, the concert will be cancelled. Plan now to spend the next eight Sunday evenings with the King Band in beautiful Oleson Park, located in the southern part of the city of Fort Dodge.