A brief history of the University City Summer Band
University City's community band concerts began in 1961 with performances held in Heman Park and Metcalfe Park on Monday nights in June and July, but the city's concert band disappeared from the scene after 1970. A new Monday night series, the Starlight Concert Series, started in 1971 and gained in popularity, offering appearances by the most popular combos of the day.
The band today...
The University City Summer Band was revived in 1997, under the direction of Dan Presgrave and was directed by Ken Thompson during the 2000-2002 seasons. The band was under the direction of Thomas Poshak 2003 to 2022. Since 2003, Danny Lewis has held the position of music director/conductor.
The band is financed through government grants, corporate and individual donations and program ads. The band is a member of the U City Municipal Commission on Arts & Letters. Rehearsals are one day a week (Monday) and six Tuesday evening concerts are presented during June and July. These outdoor concerts were held in the Market at the Loop on Delmar in University City from 1997 to 2015.
The U City Summer Band plays at Heman Park (Midland & Shaftesbury entrance).
The Musicians...
Over 60 volunteer instrumentalists from all walks of life make up the roster of the U City Summer Band. While most players are adults, the group also includes some college age students and select high school students. Many of our members participate in other community bands and orchestras in the St. Louis region and a number of our members are local music educators at all levels.
...the Music Director/Conductor...
Danny Lewis spent the past nine years teaching at McCluer High School in the Ferguson Florissant School District and served as the District’s Fine Arts Coordinator for the last three years. In fall 2025, he will start a new position as Director of Bands at Hazelwood West High School. Prior to teaching in the Ferguson Florissant District, he taught band at Mark Twain Jr/Sr. High School for three years before returning to the St. Louis area. He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Truman State University. In his free time he likes to build guitars and ukuleles in his basement. He’s excited for his third year as Director of the University City Summer Band!
Past Directors
Dan Presgrave: 1997-1999
Ken Thompson: 2000-2002
Thomas Poshak: 2003-2022
Ken Thompson: 2000-2002
Thomas Poshak: 2003-2022
Guest Soloists, Composors and Conductors
Bill Archer (Evelyn Archer), Composer
Bob Baumann, Clarinet
Dallas Blair, Composer
Derek Boemler, Vocalist
Gary Brandes, Conductor
Leon Burke, Conductor, Narrator
Lori Burkhardt-Lurk, Alto Saxophone
Sim Flora, Trombone
Gary Gackstatter, Composer, Conductor
Casey Geisz, Trumpet, Conductor
Kevin Gianino, Drum Set
Adrianne Honnold, Alto Saxophone
Matt Janssen, Conductor
Thomas and Tricia Jöstlein, French Horn
Jack Kissinger, Clarinet
Bert Langeler, Flugelhorn, Conductor
Carole Lemire, French Horn
Andre Maclin, Drum Set
Wayne Du Maine, Trumpet
Joe Pappas, Composer, Conductor
Seymour Pollack, Composer
Bob Settle, Conductor
Dale Skornia, Alto Saxophone, Conductor
Pam Smith-Kelly, Conductor
Claude T. Smith (Pam Smith), Composer
Robert Souza, Trumpet
Gay Spears, Composer
Jared Spears, Composer
Ron Stilwell, Conductor
Becky Swett, Clarinet
Drew Thompson, Bassoon
Lorenzo Trujillo, Trumpet
Roger Warner, Conductor
Bette Welch, Conductor
James Wehrman, Conductor
Bob Baumann, Clarinet
Dallas Blair, Composer
Derek Boemler, Vocalist
Gary Brandes, Conductor
Leon Burke, Conductor, Narrator
Lori Burkhardt-Lurk, Alto Saxophone
Sim Flora, Trombone
Gary Gackstatter, Composer, Conductor
Casey Geisz, Trumpet, Conductor
Kevin Gianino, Drum Set
Adrianne Honnold, Alto Saxophone
Matt Janssen, Conductor
Thomas and Tricia Jöstlein, French Horn
Jack Kissinger, Clarinet
Bert Langeler, Flugelhorn, Conductor
Carole Lemire, French Horn
Andre Maclin, Drum Set
Wayne Du Maine, Trumpet
Joe Pappas, Composer, Conductor
Seymour Pollack, Composer
Bob Settle, Conductor
Dale Skornia, Alto Saxophone, Conductor
Pam Smith-Kelly, Conductor
Claude T. Smith (Pam Smith), Composer
Robert Souza, Trumpet
Gay Spears, Composer
Jared Spears, Composer
Ron Stilwell, Conductor
Becky Swett, Clarinet
Drew Thompson, Bassoon
Lorenzo Trujillo, Trumpet
Roger Warner, Conductor
Bette Welch, Conductor
James Wehrman, Conductor
Touring Concerts
75th Anniversary of the City of Pasadena Hills, MO - 2003
"Arch Tunes"- 2010
Missouri Bandmasters Association Summer Convention - 2012
"Arch Tunes"- 2010
Missouri Bandmasters Association Summer Convention - 2012
Commissions
Delmar Garden March Arranged by Joe Pappas - 2008