The Capitol City Band is set to open the 48th concert season on Thursday, June 9, 7 p.m., at Rennebohm Park, on Madison Wisconsin’s near west side. The band is certain to “put on the ritz.” This represents 12 years under founder Elmer Ziegler and the 36th season under the baton of Jim Latimer.
In 1981, when the late Dr. Elmer Ziegler passed on, word has it that Ziegler felt his efforts to establish a lasting professional community band in Madison would not live on so he willed his 10,000-piece library to the Music Museum in Vermillion South Dakota. That being said, little did Ziegler realize that when he asked UW Professor Jim Latimer to “help out” during his [Ziegler’s] illness, the band would play on.
With the encouragement of the late Raymond F. Dvorak, Latimer made the decision to continue the then 12-year-old tradition of concerts in the park. “We just kind of limped along,” said Latimer referring to the loss of the Ziegler library to the Shrine to Music, no structure, no equipment and no money. But with the help of a small board (Dvorak and 2 others), the prompting of Fred Mueller and Fred Gage of the Evjue Foundation, and the Ziegler philosophy that “every city and town in America should have a concert band,” the Capitol City Band slowly built up library, personnel, equipment and a fantastic team of volunteers and supporters.
The Capitol City Band (CCB) musicians are some of the finest in and around Dane County. CCB is a professional reading band which means the band has neither the time nor the money to rehearse before each concert. What you hear is what you get. Latimer says, “We rely on the dedication, expertise and talent of each musician at each concert.”
Every concert is a new program of music. The band holds three rehearsals in early June before the summer season begins.
Much of the program is “Americana” including the marches of John Philip Sousa, and tributes to the Veterans and those now serving. Each concert begins with a patriotic piece (since 9/11) unannounced – an intended tribute to this great nation and “all who keep us from harm’s way.” The audience of hundreds is enthusiastic and touched by the power of music. The concerts are free and open to the public.
Rennebohm Park is a setting easily accessible for the physically challenged and older residents and visitors who find it comforting to hear fine music, experience fellowship and have fun on a beautiful summer evening 12 weeks of the summers attested to by buses that arrive from residential health care and retirement facilities. In addition, on June 30 and July 2 at Rennebohm Park, the band will play the annual “tribute to the troops —then and now” concert complete with color guard (VFW Post 7591), flags, and the Stars and Stripes forever tribute to this great nation and the people who serve and have served to make it so. Music tells who we are, what we are, and where we are going. The Capitol City Band says it with music.
Music is life according to bandleader Latimer “and we’re here to deliver.” For more information or a schedule, click here.
