The Kokomo Park Band will celebrate the upcoming Labor Day weekend with a free concert titled "The G.O.A.T." (Greatest Of All Time) on Sunday, August 31, at 7 p.m. The event will feature flutist Trudy Whitford.
Sponsored by Encompass Credit Union, the concert will be held at the Highland Park Stage, located across from the covered bridge. In the event of bad weather, the performance will be moved to the Northwestern School Auditorium.
Conducted by Jay S. Gephart, the esteemed leader of Purdue Bands & Orchestras, the program pays homage to some of the most enduring figures and compositions in music history. The selections showcase a broad range of musical genius, from classic composers to contemporary stars.
The concert will feature an outstanding local talent Trudy Whitford, the Kokomo Park Band's Principal Flutist. Whitford is a highly respected musician and educator, serving as a flute instructor at Taylor University and the Director of the IUK Flute Choir. Her extensive performance experience includes holding the principal flute chair in the Kokomo Symphony and the Marion Philharmonic, as well as playing with Orchestra Indiana and leading the Bach Trio chamber ensemble. She will be the featured soloist on "Sugarland Express," a thrilling piece from the movie soundtrack by John Williams, arranged by Stephen Bulla.
The evening's program features a variety of pieces, each with its own claim to "G.O.A.T." status. These include:
- "March from Suite in Eb" by Gustav Holst, a cornerstone of the band repertoire from a true G.O.A.T. of classical music;
- "The Big Cage" by Karl King, a G.O.A.T. of American circus music, this piece captures the high-energy spectacle of the big top;
- "Lincolnshire Posy" by Percy Grainger, considered a G.O.A.T. of wind band literature, Grainger’s masterpiece is a series of musical portraits based on English folk songs;
- "Sinatra!" arranged by Stephen Bulla, a tribute to Frank Sinatra, one of the greatest vocalists of all time;
- "Sing 'The Carpenters'" by Naohiro Iwai, a nod to the timeless pop G.O.A.T.s, The Carpenters;
- "Avatar Soundtrack Highlights" by Jay Bocook, a highlight from the G.O.A.T. of film scores, James Horner;
- "Caribana Afterparty" by Omar Thomas, Thomas is a G.O.A.T. of the new generation, bringing vibrant, modern sounds to the wind band world; and
- "Sousa!" arranged by Warren Barker, as no G.O.A.T. list is complete without honoring John Philip Sousa, the "March King" himself.
This special concert marks the end of the Kokomo Park Band's 123rd season of weekly summer performances. The series is presented in cooperation with the Kokomo Parks Department and various other community organizations. The events are made possible by the generous donations of individuals and businesses who support the band.
Contributions can be sent to the Kokomo Park Band at P.O. Box 6039, Kokomo, IN 46904-6039. For more information, you can visit the band's website at www.kokomoparkband.org or their Facebook page.