The third and final indoor concert for the 2026 season by the Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the Fort Dodge Middle School Auditorium located at 800 N. 32nd St. in Fort Dodge. There is no admission charge, since these concerts are provided by the city of Fort Dodge for everyone’s enjoyment. Conductor Dan Cassady has once again planned a varied and exciting program of band music. Paul Bloomquist serves as the band’s announcer and scholarship chairman.

This April concert is the Band’s annual scholarship event, with the presentation of the Karl L. King Memorial scholarships. 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 of their choice. Providing the funds for these monetary awards is the Karl L. King Memorial Education Foundation, which “exists to provide band instrument scholarships for students majoring in music.” All persons who audition will be invited to join the band to perform “Lexington March” by Karl L. King during the concert. The major scholarship recipient will also perform their award-winning solo.

Compositions by the band’s namesake on this hour-long concert will include his 1926 march, “The New Madison Square Garden,” and an exciting circus galop, “The Big Cage,” published in 1934 and dedicated to Clyde Beatty, one of the greatest circus wild animal trainers of all time. Former Conductor Reginald R. Schive’s march, “The Black and Gold Line,” dedicated to the band members, is also on the program, along with Jaime Texidor’s exciting Spanish-style march, “Amparito Roca.”

There is a varied assortment of other works as well, from contemporary American composer James Curnow’s “Fanfare and Flourishes for a Festive Occasion” and Paul Lincke’s lovely waltz, “Spring, Beautiful Spring,” to Ferde Grofe’s classic 1926 “Mississippi Suite,” a musical journey down the “Father of Waters.”

Lighter, popular selections on the concert will include the classic Beatles’ hit, “Michelle,” set in the style of a British Brass Band, along with a fantasia based on the well-known song “Lady of Spain.” There is also a medley of hit songs with the “Vincent Youmans Fantasy,” including those timeless standards “More Than You Know,” “Time on My Hands,” and “Without a Song.”

These concerts always conclude in the traditional way with the playing of our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” In case of inclement weather, the concert may be canceled. 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 at the traditional Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday morning, May 25th, 10:00 a.m. at Terry Moehnke Veteran’s Memorial Park. The summer series of concerts will again be held on eight consecutive Sunday evenings, beginning on June 7th and lasting through July 26th at the Karl L. King Band Shell in Oleson Park.