The Sunday evening, July 5, concert by the Karl L. King Municipal Band will celebrate America’s 250th birthday at the Karl L. King Bandshell in Oleson Park, located in the southeastern part of the City of Fort Dodge.

The concert time is 7:30 p.m. Coming just a day after the Independence Day holiday, it promises to be a perfect way to celebrate a long weekend of once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Conductor Dan Cassady has chosen the perfect blend of musical selections to highlight America’s musical history through the years. Paul Bloomquist will continue to announce each selection.

Marches have always been an enjoyable part of these concerts since the 1870s, when soldiers returning home to Fort Dodge got together to continue playing music.

Opening the concert will be John Philip Sousa’s 1900 march, “Hail to the Spirit of Liberty,” followed by one of 18-year old Karl King’s earliest published marches in 1909, “Sons of Veterans.”

Aaron Copland, often referred to as the “dean of American composers,” made significant contributions to the American music scene, especially during the 1930s and 1940s. His many ballet suites will be represented by “Excerpts from Appalachian Spring,” based on the traditional Shaker hymn, “Simple Gifts.”

John Williams, at age 94, is considered one of America’s greatest living composers. Over his seven-decade career, he has composed Olympic theme songs along with many of the best-known scores in film history from “Jaws,” “E.T.,” “Stars Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Harry Potter” and many more to the current film in theaters now, “Disclosure Day.”

This concert will feature two of his compositions, “Hymn to the Fallen” from the movie “Saving Private Ryan” and the “Midway March” from the movie “1941.”

An audience favorite each summer is “Bugler’s Holiday” by Leroy Anderson, one of America’s “great masters of light orchestral music.” Much of Anderson’s music was premiered by the Boston Pops Orchestra with Arthur Fiedler conducting. Our trumpet trio, Tim Miller from Humboldt, David Swaroff from Belmond, and Amaia Walsh from Fort Dodge, will delight the audience with their performance of this classic.

Several patriotic songs are included on this tribute concert as well. Andrew Glover’s arrangement of “God Shed His Grace on Thee”, based on “America, the Beautiful’ will stir the heartstrings of each audience member. The inspiring hymn from the 1850s, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”, will be familiar to all. The “Armed Forces Salute” will honor our military, past and present, who were willing to defend those freedoms we all enjoy daily.

This concert will close in the only way possible with Sousa’s best-known march, “The Stars and Stripes Forever”, followed by our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”.

There is no admission charge for these concerts, courtesy of the financial support from the City of Fort Dodge. Audience members are reminded to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets, since no public seating is provided. Those attending are encouraged to wear their red, white and blue, and may bring small American flags to wave at appropriate times during the evening.

Prior to the concert’s start, the Southeast Valley School Fine Arts Boosters will be providing ice cream and baked goodies for a free-will donation to support their students’ activities.

In case of inclement weather, the concert may be delayed or even cancelled at the starting time. Any announcements will be made on the band’s Facebook page listing for the Karl L. King Municipal Band at https://www.facebook.com/karlkingband/.

Plan to be in attendance on Sunday evening, July 5th, to show your enthusiastic support and patriotism to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.