Hutchinson Municipal Band and Reno Choral Society to Present

Special Patriotic Concert
“A Patriotic Salute: 250 Years of America!” to be held June 30, 2026, at Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre

 

The Hutchinson Municipal Band and Reno Choral Society will present A Patriotic Salute: 250 Years of America! on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. at Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave. The concert is free and open to the public.  Doors open at 7:00 p.m.  

The commemorative concert will honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and celebrate the music, history, and spirit of the United States and Kansas. The free public performance will feature patriotic selections, American classics, and works performed by both ensembles.

Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. Seating is expected to be near capacity, and community members are encouraged to arrive early. As has been the tradition since the band’s founding in 1875, Hutchinson Municipal Band performances remain free and open to the public.

Master of ceremonies Glen Grunwald will open the evening by welcoming Scouting America’s Boy Scout Troop 306 for the presentation of the colors. Kacey Jost, Krystal Krehbiel, and Kourtney Lane will perform a trio arrangement of The Star-Spangled Banner, followed by the Hutchinson Municipal Band’s performance of Kansas’ official state song, Home on the Range, arranged by James Barnes.

The first part of the Hutchinson Municipal Band’s program will include Black Granite II by James L. Hosay, written in remembrance of the Vietnam War; O’er the Land of the Free by Johnnie Vinson; and Semper Fidelis by John Philip Sousa.

The Reno Choral Society will perform Oh! Susanna, arranged by Mark Hayes; Americana (Folk Song Suite) by Luigi Zaninelli; Song for the Unsung Hero, with lyrics by Pamela Martin and music by Joseph M. Martin; I Will Be a Child of Peace, a traditional Shaker hymn arranged by Elaine Hagenberg and edited by Dan Forrest; and Swingin’ with the Saints, arranged by Mark Hayes.

The Hutchinson Municipal Band will return to perform Last Full Measure (A Gettysburg Remembrance) by Michael Sweeney; Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, arranged by Randall D. Standridge; and The Wizard of Oz Medley, arranged by James Barnes, featuring beloved selections from the classic American film set in Kansas.

The concert finale will bring the Hutchinson Municipal Band and Reno Choral Society together for Salute to the Armed Services, arranged by Jeremy S. Martin; America the Beautiful, with lyrics by Katharine Lee Bates and music by Samuel A. Ward, arranged by Cecil Effinger; Battle Hymn of the Republic, with lyrics by Julia Ward Howe and music by William Steffe, arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky; and John Philip Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever, the official national march of the United States.

The Hutchinson Municipal Band is conducted by Abby Giles, and the Reno Choral Society is conducted by Scott Logan. Funding for the event is provided by the City of Hutchinson’s Cultural Activities Fund, Hutch Rec, the Hutchinson Community Foundation, and special partnerships with Eagle Media and the Hutchinson Tribune.

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The Reno Choral Society is a non-auditioned choral group for singers in the Hutchinson/Reno County area. The Society was originally established to present Handel’s oratorio Messiah. RCS is recognized as a non-profit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3). If you wish to sing with the Reno Choral Society, please contact us by writing to P.O. Box 2492, Hutchinson, KS 67504-2492 or phone 620-669-9123 and leave a message.

The Hutchinson Municipal Band was founded in 1875 and became an official City of Hutchinson entity in 1915 through a voter-approved mill levy supporting a military-style concert band. Today, its local musicians continue the band’s long tradition of free Tuesday summer concerts featuring concert and jazz band performances, including classics, marches, show tunes, movie soundtracks, and patriotic music, while also appearing throughout the community through the Hutchinson Brass Quintet and annual local events.


The Hutchinson Municipal Band

is one of the three oldest bands in the state and has provided free concert band musicFacebook to the City of Hutchinson and Reno County since 1875. The charter of Hutchinson and early city ordinances required a military style band be maintained by the city. The Carey family helped persuade the state legislature to pass a bill that gave municipalities the authority to raise a tax exclusively for this purpose, which is the source of the current cultural fund for the City of Hutchinson. The City of Hutchinson has maintained this tax consistently since early this century and now this tax revenue is shared between multiple cultural groups. The Hutchinson Municipal Band today demonstrates the same commitment to community that has been such a strong part of Hutchinson's heritage.

Music as a part of everyday life as well as special events is important to us. We recognize the importance of the band in community events whether it is through our participation in the Memorial Day ceremonies, concerts in the Farmer's Market, or stirring patriotic music during the Fourth of July that gives our community a time to relax together, and reflect on our heritage. We are now routinely included by many organizations in their special events. When groups in the community plan on our musical services for their events, they know that they can count on us to be there with live music if they will contact us via phone or email.

 

It is the Band's mission to provide quality music free of charge to people of all ages, races and income levels. As part of this mission we also try to reach people who otherwise are unable to hear great music due to limits of their physical ability or residence. A secondary mission is to give people of all ages, races and professions the opportunity to play in a musical organization. Even while doing this, the musicality of the group is improving year after year, perhaps through the addition of so many new, young musicians or a new generation of conductors.

Our bands (Parade Band, Concert Band, Salt City Jazz Orchestra, Big Band Explosion, Dixieland Combo, Jazz Combo, Brass Quintet and Woodwind combo) are available to play for your event. 

It is the band's goal to bring high quality instrumental music and inspiration to the residents of Hutchinson and to provide greater opportunities for people of all ages to participate in a community band. Please attend a concert or join us as a musician!