Oskaloosa City Band To Celebrate 150 Years This Thursday Night
This Brigade Band hat hangs inside the Oskaloosa Historical Montage inside Penn Central Mall. Today, we know the Iowa Brigade Band as The Oskaloosa Municipal Band.
The Oskaloosa City Band will perform Thursday night at 8 p.m. on the bandstand. The Oskaloosa Band Boosters, along with the Mahaska County Cattlemen will be grilling burgers, hot dogs, and steak sandwiches beginning at 5 p.m. Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt will be speaking during the concert to help commemorate the band’s sesquicentennial.
During last week’s concert, audience members listening in their cars practiced their horn honking skills. Tonight, they will be asked to perform along with the band on Andy Clark’s arrangement entitled, “Concerto for Car Horns and City Band”.
Tonight’s program will include: “Defying Gravity” from the Musical Wicked as featured on the Fox TV series GLEE, “Music from Apollo 13”, and The Beatles’ “Penny Lane”. Also included will be a variety of overtures and marches, and “Travelin’ Trumpets”.
Each week, the band plays a special song for birthday and anniversary celebrations. If you have someone you would like to recognize, hand a note to a band member before the concert, or between songs.
In the event of inclement weather, tune into KBOE, or the “Oskaloosa City Band Fan Page” on Facebook for weather related announcements.
Today, we know the Iowa Brigade Band as The Oskaloosa Municipal Band. The Oskaloosa Municipal Band can trace it’s past not only to the Iowa Brigade Band, but all the way back to 1864 when it was called the “K.T. Band”. Along the way, it was also known as the “Knights of Pythias Band”
C.L. Barnhouse, founder of C.L. Barnhouse Company, moved his business to Oskaloosa in 1890 to lead the “Knights of Pythias Band.” During that time until 1899, the Band once again changed it’s name to the Iowa Brigade Band. They were, at that time, gaining national prominence alongside C.L. Barnhouse as his company was growing in importance. In 1911,the publishing business responsibilities made it impossible to continue with the band.
Composer Fred Jewell took over leadership of the band in 1918. Jewell is also credited with starting the Oskaloosa High School Band.
Ivan Kennedy took over as conductor of the band in 1942, with his tenure as leader lasting 35 years.
In 1964, the band celebrated 100 years. Along with guest conductor Karl King, they performed a concert in that honor.
The Oskaloosa Municipal Band continues to this day, currently under the direction of Bruce Pfeiffer. The band performs every Thursday evening during the summer starting at 8 p.m. in Oskaloosa’s town square
