Cape's band shell to be named after longtime musician

The Cape Girardeau Municipal Band Shell is set to be named after its most tenured member and beloved trombone player.

Dr. Dan Cotner, known as Cape Girardeau's own River City Music Man, will be honored in a special ceremony Wednesday, just before the weekly concert.

Cotner's history includes service in the Army during World War II, service in the Air Force during the Korean War, mission trips abroad providing free dental care and -- as fellow members say -- serving as the foundation of the municipal band's trombone section since he joined in 1940 at age 17.

But those are a few of the reasons the Capaha Park band shell will be renamed the Dan Cotner Amphitheatre. Ron Nall is in his 23rd year as band director, though his history with the band and Cotner goes back to the late 1960s, when Nall first became involved as a band member. He said Cotner is "really fun," and even at the age of 92 still is quite the trombone player.

"The thing about Dan that's amazing is, a lot of people, as they get older, they want to stay part of the group because they like being part of the group. But Dan can play really well," he said.

Cotner also plays piano and organ and has been known to play for his church and for Notre Dame Regional High School musicals.

Nall said over the years several members have passed the 50-year mark with the band. Cotner became the most longtime member in 2013, when he surpassed Homer Gilbert's record of 73 years. At the time, Nall said he was reluctant to be honored because he didn't want to take away from Gilbert's achievement.

"He's really humble," he said of Cotner. "Whenever we began to talk about this [renaming the band shell], we wanted his family to be involved, and he almost told them he didn't deserve it and didn't want it, but many of us felt he did."

The municipal band has been playing at the band shell since 1957. Band members and supporters helped raise the money to build it at no cost to the city, according to reports at the time.

The switch from band shell to amphitheater is a nod to the city's plans for an update.

Parks and recreation director Julia Thompson said they are excited about the renaming of the band shell and what the future holds for its corner of Capaha Park.

"[We hope] funds become available in the near future," she said, "either through grants, PRS2 approval or other funding sources, such as sponsorships ..."

PRS2 would be the second installment of the Parks and Recreation and Stormwater Tax, a portion of which will be up for voter renewal in 2018. Earlier this month, the parks department issued an online survey asking park users to share information about their experiences and what projects they might like to see in the future.

Band-shell improvements such as improved parking and access, improved seating and improved landscaping and lighting are included in the Capaha Park Master Plan, Thompson said.

The ceremony honoring Cotner will be at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at the band shell and will be followed by the final municipal band concert of the season. Refreshments will be served at intermission. If it rains, the concert will be at the Osage Centre, 1625 N. Kingshighway.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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Broadway and Perry Avenue, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

1625 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, Mo.