Capitol City Band

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Jim Latimer has been conductor of the Capitol City Band since 1981.

A summertime tradition for more than five decades, Concerts in the Park from the Capitol City Band kicks off with the annual “Tribute to the Troops — Then and Now.” The all-volunteer band performs patriotic music, and there will be a presentation of flags by the VFW Post 7591 Black Knights Color Guard & Auxiliary. Free concerts continue weekly at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 24. More info below and at mmqccb.org.

media release: June 29 is the commencement of the 55th concert season for Madison’s Capitol City Band (CCB). According to the organization’s board chair, the band’s much-loved leader of 42 seasons celebrates his 89th birthday just a few days prior to the June 29 opening. That leader, of course, is music icon Jim Latimer. You may have been lucky enough to catch the band in rehearsal these past few Thursday evenings at Rennebohm Park, 115 N. Eau Claire Ave. in Madison, where the signs that hang outside and inside the shelter read HOME OF THE CAPITOL CITY BAND.

The Capitol City Band, one might say, was ‘founded on a dime’ back in 1969 by the late Dr. Elmer Ziegler. On short notice in 1980, Ziegler asked Latimer to help out.

Ziegler’s untimely and unexpected death in February 1981 left Latimer and the Capitol City Band Association with two decisions...what to do with the winter VFW Band in session and what to do with the summer Capitol City Band in the planning for summer 1981. At the prompting of CCB Board member and UW Band Director, the late Raymond F. Dvorak, Latimer agreed to complete the seasons for both bands. The rest is history...the Capitol City Band, about to begin the 55th season, opens June 29 and the VFW Band is slated to begin the 74th season in September. Latimer describes the Capitol City Band Association (CCBA)...two bands with one mission – making a difference through music. Since 1981, Latimer and his team have volunteered their services to keep the music playing.

The opening concert theme (7 pm, Rennebohm Park) is “Tribute to the Troops – then and now,” an annual event since 1983. The concert, co-sponsored by the Madison Veterans’ Council and VFW Post 1318, is patriotic and gives recognition to veterans and their families including those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. The VFW Post 7591 Black Knights Color Guard and Auxiliary will present the colors and the flags of the six military units(which now includes the U.S. Space Force) – a tear-jerker of sort to see comrades stand and salute, some young, some old, as their service anthem is played.

According to Latimer, the band will play the Salute to the Armed Forces arranged by retired U.S. Army Band staff arranger, Jari Villanueva. This arrangement includes Semper Supra, the official anthem for Space Force (in Latin semper supra means ‘always above’). Latimer describes this concert’s dedication to veterans and their families as “good for one’s soul reminding us who we are, where we’ve been and where we are going.”

Other works on the program include Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, the WWII favorite made famous by the Andrew Sisters, featuring the trumpet section,. Also featured, I Feel Good and America the Beautiful sung by contralto, Anna Purnell. No concert is complete without a waltz, a polka, the jazzy Swingin’ Songs of Yesterday, the beautiful ballad A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square, and marches of John Philip Sousa. Latimer said he holds the name of the encore “in secret” for all to be surprised.

According to Nancy Riesch-Flannery, current CCB board chair, “we want these bands to go on let’s just say ‘forever’ so that no matter who is conducting and programming or doing the operations, the bands continue to make a difference through music serving Madison and Dane County.” Associate conductor, Dave Pedracine, says “we welcome new boots on the ground.” To that end, the organization is “fund raising like crazy” to secure the organization’s future and offer a stipend to whomever takes over when that time comes. Meanwhile, Jim Latimer and his team continue “making a difference through music.”

Hats off to the Madison Parks Division for allowing parking within the parkland so that people of all ages, abilities and cultures have easy access to the park shelter. The shelter is readily accessible even though surrounded by a formidable orange fencing due to playground reconstruction at the park. Deb Kabler of Blue Mounds, a 30-year volunteer with the group, reminds everyone to “bring a chair, bring a friend and enjoy the music.”

The Capitol City Band summer concert series continues Thursdays through August 24. For more information, go to www.mmqccb.org, follow Capitol City Band – Madison on Facebook, or call 608 835-9861. Concerts are free and open to the public and begin Thursday, June 29. Find the full season schedule below.

June 29   Opening concert, 55^th season: Annual Tribute to the Troops - then and now, with VFW Post 7591 Color Guard and Auxiliary

July 6 Salute to the Men and Women of the Dane County Sheriff's Department

Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, (guest)

July 13 Salute to the Employees of Dane County

County Executive, Joe Parisi (guest)

July 20  Salute to the Men and Women of the Madison Fire Department

Chief Chris Carbon (guest)

July 27 Professor Mimmi Fulmer, UW Madison, guest vocalist

Kyle Rightley, Euphonium soloist, Madisonian, composer, teacher, freelance musician

August 3 Salute to the City of Madison Employees;  Special tribute to the Madison Parks Division for believing that what we do is important and making Rennebohm Park home to the Capitol City Band

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway (guest)

August 10  Salute to the Men and Women of the Madison Police Department

Chief Shon Barnes (guest)

August 17   Army Veteran, US Postal Worker, Monica Wichgers, guest vocalist

Doug Terhune, Alto Saxophone soloist, member of the band

August 24    Final concert of the 55^th concert season, Capitol City Band

Keeping the CCBA tradition going, let's just say FOREVER; Capitol City Band Association - two bands, one mission.