High school musicians perform June 11; youth rhythm players join band June 18
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On Wednesday, June 11, the Kokomo Park Band will present its annual Side-by-Side program, an event where the area's top high school musicians perform alongside the seasoned professionals of the KPB.
This year's theme is "C" Songs, with each musical selection related in some way to the letter "C." Community First Bank and the CFB Journey Club are sponsoring this concert, which will feature vocalists Sally and Samuel Duke. This free event begins at 7:30 PM in Highland Park.
The program is part of the weekly KPB Summer Concert Series, hosted by the Kokomo Parks Department with support from the Allen Whitehill Clowes Foundation, the Center Township Trustee, the Community Foundation of Howard County, and The Arts Federation, in cooperation with the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Side-by-Side project is an annual event where students are selected based on musical achievements, such as performing a Group I level solo at the ISSMA State Contest. KPB musicians nominate and sponsor these students.
This year's Side-by-Side selectees include: Jackson Taylor, Zander Bowers, and Alexis Linstrom on clarinet; Porter Stone and Claire Rush on bassoon; Madison Zimmerer, Giles Brumley, and Matthew Smith on saxophone; Ruben Sanchez, Jonathan Rossiter, and Makayla Armstrong on trumpet; Rachel Rath and Max Bowers on French horn; Jaimasynn Craig and Hayden Cummins on trombone; Nia Douglas on euphonium; Alexander Brumley on String Bass; and Ky Frank and Nichole King on percussion.
Schools represented include Eastern, Kokomo, Logansport, Northwestern, and North Central.
The concert will open with "Celebration Fanfare" by Steven Reineke. Other selections include "Sea Songs" by Ralph Vaughan Williams, "Comrades of the Legion" by John Philip Sousa, "Cajun Folk Songs" by Frank Ticheli, "Chimes of Liberty" by Edwin Franko Goldman, "The Genius of Ray Charles" by Michael Brown, "Chicago (the musical) Selections" by Ted Ricketts, and "See Rock City" by Brant Karrick.
Sally and Samuel Duke will sing "Side by Side" by Harry Woods, arranged for the occasion by Charlie Rose, a member and past director of the Kokomo Men of Note. Sally Duke resides in Greentown, Indiana, with her husband of 42 years Bobby and their 20-year-old son Samuel.
As a Christian vocalist, Sally has performed on nine recordings and given many concerts across the United States and abroad. She works at Community First Bank, where she manages their travel program for people 50 or better. Sally is celebrating her 29th year as a travel escort in 2025. She has traveled with groups to 50 states and 35 countries. Her goal is to visit all seven continents and 100 countries before she turns 100.
Samuel Duke graduated from Eastern High School in 2023, where he was very involved in the music and theater programs. His leading roles included Moonface Martin in “Anything Goes” and Professor Harold Hill in “The Music Man.” He was also a member of the Encore Singers.
He currently writes and performs songs with his friends and leads worship at his church. He is entering his junior year as a student at Indiana University Kokomo, with the goal of becoming a high school history teacher. He currently works at Community First Bank as a teller.
Every effort is made to perform outdoors, but in the event of inclement weather, the concert will move to the Kokomo High School Auditorium. The decision to move indoors is generally not made until after 5 p.m., with announcements posted on Facebook. A recorded announcement will also be available at 765-319-8554 if the location is changed.
The majority of the band's funding depends on donations from individuals. Contributions should be sent to Kokomo Park Band; PO Box 6039; Kokomo, IN 46904-6039. More information can be found on Facebook and on the band's website at www.kokomoparkband.org.
Visit www.kokomoperformingarts.org
Kokomo Park Band is also partnering with the Kokomo Howard County Public Library to offer an exciting opportunity for kids in 1st through 5th grade. The Kokomo Park Band’s 30th Annual Youth Multicultural Rhythm Workshop, under the direction of Art Reiner, will be hosted by the downtown library next week.
Participants are expected to attend all three days, Monday-Wednesday, June 16-18, from 3:30-4:45 p.m. at the downtown Library Annex Building, 305 E. Mulberry St. The workshop concludes with a demonstration on Wed., June 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the Highland Park Bandstand.
This activity is effective for instilling teamwork and mutual respect. Students from grades one through five will be introduced to various forms of percussion and will have an opportunity to learn from a specialist in multicultural percussion instruments.
The workshop will conclude on Wednesday evening with a pre-concert demonstration by the students and a performance at 7:30 p.m. with the Park Band. The workshop is limited to 25 students and tends to fill-up quickly. For more information, please contact: Children's Department, Main Library at 457-3242. To register online, go to https://khcpl.libnet.info/event/13377594