The third and final indoor concert for the 2022 winter season by the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Fort Dodge Middle School Auditorium, located at 800 N. 32nd St. There is no admission charge, since these concerts are provided by the city of Fort Dodge for everyone’s enjoyment. Conductor Jerrold P. Jimmerson has once again planned an enjoyable program of band music. Dan Cassady serves as the assistant conductor of the band, and Paul Bloomquist will be the band’s announcer.

This April concert is the band’s annual scholarship event, with the presentation of the Karl L. King scholarships. Several talented students will audition during the day, and the winners will be announced during the afternoon concert. Winners will be recognized with either $500 scholarships to Iowa Central Community College or a $1,000 scholarship to any four-year Iowa college or university. Providing the funds for these awards is the King Band Scholarship fund.

All persons who audition will be invited to join in playing one selection with the band during the concert, and the major scholarship recipient will perform their award-winning solo.

Compositions by the band’s namesake, Karl L. King, on this hour-long concert will include his 1936 march, “Drake Relays,” his 1912 aerial waltz, “Spirit of Springtime,” an exciting circus galop from 1913 titled “Emporia,” and the closing march from 1911, King’s “Eternal Youth.”

The afternoon’s classical and popular offerings include the music of two 20th century American composers, Aaron Copland and Leonard Bernstein. From the pen of Copland, the band will perform excerpts from his 1944 ballet, “Appalachian Spring,” which includes the well-known hymn, “Simple Gifts.” From the pen of Bernstein, the band will perform “Make Our Garden Grow” from his 1956 operetta, Candide, and then turn to highlights from his popular 1957 Broadway musical, “West Side Story,” including such favorite songs like “I Feel Pretty,” “Maria” and “Tonight.”

Two selections from composer John Philip Sousa will round out this salute to youth and springtime. Opening this concert will be “The High School Cadets March.” Published in 1890, this is said to be one of Sousa’s most popular marches. Later in the concert will be Sousa’s “Easter Monday on the White House Lawn” from his 1929 Suite for Band, “Tales of a Traveler.” This selection depicts the joy of children during the annual egg-rolling event held on the White House the day after Easter each year.

The concert will conclude in the traditional way with the playing of our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In case of inclement weather (even though it will be on April 3), the concert may be cancelled. Any announcement will be made on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/karlkingband/, or on the band’s website at www.karlking.us.

LOOKING AHEAD:

The next performance by the band will be the traditional Memorial Day ceremonies on May 30 at Veteran’s Memorial Park. The summer series of concerts will again be held on eight Sunday evenings during June and July, beginning on June 5 and lasting through July 24, at the Karl L. King Band Shell in Oleson Park.