Jackson Municipal Band's begins its free summer concert series

The Jackson Municipal Band is starting its free summer season Thursday with an extended concert featuring the Jackson High School Pop concert performers.

"It's a wonderful summer tradition and is always so well-received here," said Jackson Mayor Barbara Lohr.

The Jackson Municipal Band began in 1920 and used the gazebo on the Cape Girardeau County Courthouse grounds as its stage until 1976, when the Jackson City Park band shell was dedicated. Eight conductors have led the band over the past 86 years.

This year Nick Leist, conductor for more than 40 years, retired because of recent health problems and passed the baton to Scott VanGilder.

"This wasn't a planned change. Next summer, if I do this again, I'll have a few months to give it some thought and try some new things for special entertainment," VanGilder said.

Three extended concerts are scheduled for this summer. One of those concerts is a tribute to Leist, featuring Pat Schwent and Saxy Jazz Motown Band.

"I'm very humbled by them wanting to do that for me. Like a lot of people, I did my job and enjoyed it very much," Leist said.

Other special guests this summer include Kirk Hanser and Erin Darter, both Jackson High School graduates.

"What they're doing is extraordinary, being so organized and having it go as long as it has," Hanser said of the band's history.

Hanser grew up in Jackson and now teaches guitar in St. Louis. He has won a National Teacher of the Year award and three Outstanding National Program awards for his work with the Childbloom Guitar Program.

The municipal band, special guests and the free summer concert series are funded by an ongoing city band tax.

The municipal band concerts will take place at 8 p.m. every Thursday during the summer. The concerts will also include performances by special guests starting at 7 p.m.