The Karl L. King Municipal Band of Fort Dodge will open its 2026 summer season on Sunday evening 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 for a freewill donation, served by the Southeast Valley Fine Arts Boosters starting around 6:30 pm.

People attending these concerts are reminded to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets, since no public seating is provided. These concerts are free to all, and are provided as a public serice by the City of Fort Dodge. Directing the band again this season will be Dan Cassady as conductor and Paul Bloomquist as announcer.

These concerts always include several marches each week. On the program will be “Phillipian Festival” and “Monahan Post,” both written by Karl L. King, along with Fred Jewell’s exciting circus march, “High and Mighty,” and the Julius Fucik Grand Italian march classic, “Florentiner.” A fast-paced circus galop, “Royal Hippodrome” by Karl King, is included as well.

Classical offerings for the evening will include Carl Friedmann’s “Slavonic Rhapsody,” a tour-de-force selection frequently performed by the band under Karl King’s direction and by each conductor since. Harry Alford’s arrangement of segments from many Karl King compositions is also included and titled “Melody ala King.”

On the lighter side will be Leroy Anderson’s popular 1951 song, “Blue Tango,” along with the George Gershwin classic “Strike up the Band.” Also on the program will be a beautiful arrangement of the traditional American folk song, “Shenandoah.”

Featured soloist on French horn will be Lacey Larson, daughter of Patty and Rodd Larson, Fort Dodge. Larson graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High in 2025 and Iowa Central Community College in 2026. While in high school, she maintained an active schedule in Marching Band, Jazz Band, Choir, and Musicals, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also participated in volleyball, tennis, and several speech activities, where she earned All-State recognition.

Larson started piano lessons at age 5, and trumpet in ninth grade. She has studied with Kris Bodholdt, a member of the King Band’s horn section. Larson was selected as a member of the Iowa All-State Band for two years while in high school, and is currently a member of the Karl King Band.

She is presently a student at Iowa State University in Ames, where she is studying Criminal Justice and Psychology. She will perform the third movement, “Rondo for Horn from Concerto No. 1, op. 11,” by the German composer Richard Strauss.

Each concert always closes in the traditional way, with the playing of our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

In case of inclement weather at the starting time, the concert may be delayed or cancelled. Any announcement will be made on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/karlkingband.