“One of the greatest community assets is a good band, a band whose sole reason for existence is to make good music for everybody. The right kind of music tends to make better men and women. It tends to make better citizens.
Walter G. Miser
Holiday Greetings Section
The Rapid City Daily Journal/1919-20
“I always think there’s a band, kid.”
Professor Harold Hill (‘The Music Man’)
RAPID CITY, SD—They may not have 76 trombones or a hundred and ten cornets close at hand, but for 107 seasons – dating back to the presidency of Woodrow Wilson — Rapid City has had a band.
The Rapid City Municipal Band will kick off its 107th season of free concerts beginning next Wednesday, June 11 at 8 p.m. at the Memorial Park Bandshell. The weekly concerts will be performed Wednesday nights through July 30 with the addition of a special Independence Day concert to be held on Friday, July 4. Auditions for this year’s musical group are being held this week.
What started with a rehearsal in June 1918, the Rapid City Municipal Band and its local performers have provided free music for Rapid City citizens and visitors. The group has played at over a dozen locations throughout Rapid City, many were concerts in city parks and some spots were transformed to parking lots or businesses.
The Municipal Band is sponsored by the City of Rapid City and the group has performed the past several years under the direction of co-directors Mark Bray, Don Downs and Bill Evans. Bray and Downs will be handling the director duties this summer while Evans recuperates from surgery.
“We look forward to continuing our long history and providing another season of great and free entertainment in Memorial Park. From the directors and band members, we have a long-standing community connection promoting and enhancing Rapid City history,” said co-directors Mark Bray, Don Downs and Bill Evans. “We have a great slate of concerts planned and are pleased to continue the wishes of the Rapid City founding fathers in playing an integral part in promoting community pride.”
Interesting historical facts about the Rapid City Municipal Band:
•Originally known as the Rapid City Military Band
•The first rehearsal was held June 23, 1918
•The Municipal Band performances were held at Spayde’s Park (1918), the bandstand at 7th & St. Joe (1918-1928), Rapid City High School, Halley Park, Canyon Lake Park, Wilson Park (1972), Sioux Park and Roosevelt Park, Canyon Lake and Roosevelt Parks, Canyon Lake Park and Memorial Park
•The first director was R.C. Hurlbut (1918-19). The longest-serving directors were Jack Knowles (1971-2006) and Milo Winter (1971-2011)
•Current and former directors since 2007: Mark Bray, Don Downs, Bill Evans and Gary Hansen
•On the Fourth of July, 1918, the band played its first concert at Spayde’s Park ‘for one of the biggest barbecues and patriotic rallies ever staged in Rapid City’;
•In 1919, the Band’s board of directors voted to exclude women, although men and women were being asked to vote on a tax to support the band.
•In 1918, Rapid City citizens voted almost three to one to support the Rapid City Band with a tax levy
• Women were finally extended an invitation to join the band in 1945;
The July 4 concert will take place prior to the City’s fireworks display. The band will pay tribute to the nation’s independence with a variety of well-known patriotic songs and a salute to the nation’s armed services.
The public is welcome to attend the weekly concerts and are advised to bring lawn chairs and blankets for the events. For more information about The Rapid City Municipal Band, visit https://rapidcitymunicipalband.org .
