July 1 performance will take place in Kokomo High School Auditorium
The Kokomo Park Band will jumpstart local celebrations for the nation’s historic 250th Independence anniversary on Wednesday, July 1, with its annual patriotic concert, “Soundtrack of a Nation.” The free, family-friendly performance begins at 7:30 PM at the Highland Park stage.
Due to the unprecedented heat warning, Kokomo Park Band invites the public to come celebrate the nation’s independence at its annual patriotic concert, which will be indoors at Kokomo High School, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Use Door 1 (south) or Door 3 (west).
This milestone evening will be led by guest conductor Dr. Ishbah Cox and features the 50-piece Kokomo Park Band alongside trumpet soloist Bruce Knepper and guest vocalists J’Lan Stewart and Cherresa Lawson. Curt Alexander will serve as the evening’s emcee.
The event kicks off with a formal presentation of the colors by members of the Albert E. Shockey Marine Corps League Detachment. Attendees can enjoy free popcorn and drinks provided by the “Serving in Love Team” of Morning Star Church, and volunteers from Highland Park Church will assist with program distribution. This year’s concert is proudly sponsored by Bayliff, Harrigan, Cord, Maugans & Cox, P.C. - Attorneys at Law.
Dr. Ishbah Cox (Guest Conductor) was hand-picked to lead this historic performance by Kokomo Park Band Artistic Director Jay Gephart, a nod to their eight years as faculty colleagues and co-directors within the Purdue University band department. Cox brings more than 20 years of collegiate and public-school experience to his current role as Director of Wind Ensembles and Assistant Professor of Music at Capital University’s Conservatory of Music in Columbus, Ohio. He previously served as Associate Professor of Bands at Purdue. Dr. Cox holds degrees from Auburn University and the University of Alabama, as well as a Doctor of Arts from Ball State University. An accomplished euphonium player and former member of the Kokomo Park Band, he is making his third appearance as a KPB guest conductor.
Beyond the podium, Dr. Cox is a highly sought-after, published national arranger. His marching band arrangements have been performed by major university bands across the country, including Purdue, Penn State, The Ohio State University, and the University of Wisconsin. Known for bridging musical genres, he has also collaborated with global mainstream artists like Papa Roach and the Huntertones, adapting their music for marching band performances.
Cherresa Lawson (vocalist) is a celebrated regional jazz, blues, and pop vocalist and the Director of the award-winning Kokomo High School Choirs. Fresh off her performance last week as a featured soloist for the Kokomo Park Band’s “Big Band Night,” Lawson is a frequent KPB collaborator and an accomplished educator. She is proudly recognized as a primary musical mentor and inspiration by upcoming KPB featured vocalist J’lan Stewart.
J’lan Stewart (vocalist) is a 2023 Kokomo High School graduate and a rising musical theater talent. A former member of the KHS Karisma Singers and a National Songbook Academy® alumnus, Stewart has performed with the Carmel Symphony and earned standing ovations at The Palladium. Currently studying at Ivy Tech with plans to major in musical theater at IU or the University of Memphis, he also serves as a worship leader at Strait Gate Ministry. Stewart is praised by industry icons like Michael Feinstein for his authentic storytelling. For this performance, he will delight audiences with “Blue Moon” and “The Impossible Dream.”
Bruce Knepper (Trumpet Soloist) will take the spotlight on Walter Rodgers’ “Land of the Free.” Knepper’s deep history with the Kokomo Park Band began in 1980 while he was still a high school student, and just last week, he returned to the podium to conduct the KPB Student All-Star Jazz Band. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Valparaiso University and a master’s degree in trumpet performance from Indiana University and retired in 2021 after a distinguished career as the assistant director of bands at Lafayette Jefferson High School.
An incredibly versatile performer, Knepper’s early career included stints at Kings Island and four years performing on major cruise lines. Over the years, he has shared the stage with entertainment icons like Mary Wilson & The Supremes, Bob Newhart, The Manhattan Transfer, and Marie Osmond. Today, he frequently performs with the Kokomo, Lafayette, and Indianapolis-area ensembles, including the Los Blancos Latin Jazz Band.
The performance features several other soaring works that trace the history and heart of the nation. The band will take the audience back to colonial times with Jari Villanueva’s “American Revolutionary War Medley,” a musical time machine weaving together six iconic tunes from the nation’s birth, including “Washington’s March,” “The British Grenadiers,” “Chester,” and “Yankee Doodle.”
The program also features Warren Barker’s “In Praise of Freedom,” an uplifting concert piece that introduces an immediate sense of patriotism and independence, culminating in a grand fanfare celebrating the progress of freedom for all mankind.
Audiences will also hear John Cacavas’ “Star Spangled Spectacular,” John Philip Sousa’s timeless “The Free Lance March,” and the grand “Armed Forces Salute,” arranged by Robert Lowden. This traditional musical tribute honors all veterans and active-duty service members, and now seamlessly includes “Semper Supra,” the official hymn of the U.S. Space Force. Rounding out the evening are the sweeping, patriotic arrangements of “America, the Beautiful” (arranged by Carmen Dragon) and Sousa’s ultimate masterpiece, “Stars and Stripes Forever” (edited by Loras Schissel).
The KPB concert series is proudly presented in cooperation with the Kokomo Parks Department, Community Foundation of Howard County, Center Township, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation, the Arts Federation in cooperation with the Indiana Arts Commission, Wyman Group, and American Legion Post #6.
Because the majority of the Kokomo Park Band’s funding depends largely on donations from individuals, contributions to keep these concerts free to the public are always appreciated. Donations can be sent to the Kokomo Park Band, PO Box 6039, Kokomo, IN 46904-6039. More information, full season programs, and severe weather schedule updates can be found on Facebook and on the band’s official website at www.kokomoparkband.org.