Future Schedule
06/13/2023Concert #1 ~ First Concert! Led by new conductor, Danny Lewis!


1st concert of the season, led by new conductor, Danny Lewis!

Celebration Fanfare…..Gary Gackstatter
Spirit of the Falcon…..Richard L. Saucedo
Irish Tune from County Derry……arr by Percy Grainger
The Genius of Ray Charles…..arr by Michael Brown
Delmar Gardens March….Ernest Natiello; arr Joseph Pappas
Columbian March…..Karl L. King; arr Gene Milford
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Medley…..John Lennon & Paul McCartney; arr by Michael Sweeney
The Lion King…..arr by John Higgins
On the Mall….Edwin Franko Goldman

06/20/2023Concert #2 ~ Student Night!


Student Night. Area high school band students are invited to come play with the band! Registration is free, more information available on our website on the homepage

Celebration Fanfare…..Gary Gackstatter
Adrenaline Engines…..Randall D. Standridge
Till Earth and Heaven Ring…..arr Ayatey Shabazz
Wii Song (Mii Menu)…..arr by Michael Stewart
The Incredibles…..Michael Giacchino; arr by Paul Murtha
Flight of the Thunderbird…..Richard L. Saucedo
Remember Me, from Coco…..Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez; arr Johnnie Vinson
The Avengers…..Alan Silvestri; arr Michael Brown
On the Mall….Edwin Franko Goldman

06/27/2023Concert #3 ~ Special guests: St. Boogie Brass Band!


Special guests: St. Boogie Brass Band, New Orleans style brass band in concert with UCity Summer Band! 

Program TBA

07/04/2023NO CONCERT!!
07/11/2023Concert #4 ~ University City Summer Band Concert


University City Summer Band Concert

Program TBA

07/18/2023Concert #5 ~ Special Guests: University City High School Jazz Band 40th Reunion with Trumpeter Wayne Du Maine!


Special Guests: University City High School Jazz Band 40th Reunion (Class of 1983) with Trumpeter Wayne Du Maine!

At Intermission, the University City Parks Centennial Committee will award three top winners to school age kids who completed the University City Parks Scavenger Hunt. In addition, the Fire & Ice Cream Truck will have limited free ice cream for attendees.  Both the Scavenger Hunt and the Fire & Ice Cream Truck are sponsored by the Parks Centennial. 

Program TBA

07/25/2023Concert #6 ~ Final concert of the season!


Final concert of the season! 

At Intermission, celebrate the centennial of the University City Parks. Mayor Terry Crow will honor the University City Parks and Recreation staff!

Program TBA

Past Schedule
07/26/2022FINAL Concert #6 @ Heman Park; 7pm
Eric Setzer/David Jones Guest Artist Fund Concert

Celebration Fanfare!......... Gary Gackstatter
St. Louis Blues March........ W.C. Handy/Burgett
Children of Sanchez........... Chuck Mangione/Bocci
      Bryan Foote, Guest Artist, Flugelhorn and Trumpet
A Pig Went Out to Dig...... Percy Grainger/Gackstatter
     Gary Gackstatter, Guest Conductor
Blues Brother Revue..........Arr. Jay Bocook
Americana.................................Gackstatter
     Gary Gackstatter, Guest Conductor
Embraceable You..................George & Ira Gershwin/Barker
     Bryan Foote, Bryan Foote, Guest Artist, Trumpet and Vocals
Z’s Blues..................................... John P. Zdechlik
     Bryan Foote and Friends
On the Mall................................Edwin Franko Goldman
 
GUEST ARTIST, TRUMPET/FLUGELHORN/VOCALS, Bryan Foote started playing the trumpet in 5th grade, because one of his best childhood friends was a hotshot trumpeter, and Bryan wanted to be cool, like his suave older friend. He’s now been at the “coil of torture” for nearly 22 years (straight!), and he’s still hopelessly uncool, but now, he can sort-of play the trumpet well, and he also sings. He’s peddled this latent uncoolness in dozens of bands around the St. Louis Area, had a year way up in frigid Chicago, and had a couple stints being lame on Cruise Ships (Holland America, with the BB King Blues Club Band). Bryan is a studio recording artist, improvisor, and musical arranger of certain repute. He has recently began frequenting musical theatre pit orchestras, having put his calling-cards in two World Premiers (“Elvis: The Musical”; “Karate Kid:The Musical”), and is minty-fresh from handling “Matilda: The Musical” at COCA. Please come enjoy his life’s work.
 
GUEST CONDUCTOR/COMPOSER, Gary Gackstatter, is an active artist, composer, conductor, performer, and teacher, and currently conducts the symphonic band and orchestra at St. Louis Community College at Meramec. Before coming to Missouri, Gackstatter built outstanding music programs in Oklahoma and Kansas public schools, at Southwestern and Cowley Colleges in Kansas, and directed bands at Wichita State University. He won the 2006 Kansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Multi-Genre Artist. His creative output includes five symphonies combining the arts, several recordings of original music for voice and guitar, the book Pen and Ink, featuring his artwork and writings, and many works for band and orchestra published by C Alan Publications. He was commissioned by the UCity Summer Band to compose Celebration Fanfare! in 2016 for the band’s 20th anniversary season.
07/19/2022Concert #5 @ Heman Park; 7pm

Celebration Fanfare!.........Gary Gackstetter
Commando March............Samuel Barber/Curnow
As Summer Was Just Beginning..........Larry Daehn
Coat of Arms........................George Kenny
      Ron Stilwell, Guest Conductor
Armory....................................Dakota Pederson
Ragged Rozey....................Karl King/Boyd
Swing the Mood...............Arr Michael Sweeney
A Cohan Salute.................Arr Hawley Ades
On the Mall........................Edwin Franko Goldman

GUEST CONDUCTOR, Ron Stilwell, retired from Meramec Community College in 2003, after 35 years as the founder and coordinator of the instrumental music contingent of the college’s music department. As a clarinet major, Dr. Stilwell received a bachelor of science in music education degree from The Ohio State University and master of music in wind instrument performance and doctor of musical arts in clarinet performance degrees at The University of Michigan. In 1968, Dr. Stilwell accepted a position at the (then) new Meramec Community College in St. Louis, Missouri, with the responsibility of forming an instrumental music program. As a result of his efforts, both the symphonic and jazz bands have earned recognition for their excellence and maturity of performance, including a combined total of four invitations to perform at Missouri Music Educators Association state conferences. Dr. Stilwell has served as clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor, and guest soloist. During his retirement, he has enjoyed guest conducting and completing band transcriptions of orchestral scores, including a performance of The British Grenadiers in 2015 and Midsummer Vigil in 2018 with the University City Summer Band.

07/12/2022Concert #4 @ Heman Park; 7pm

Celebration Fanfare! ................................... Gary Gackstatter
Lustspiel Overture..................................................... Bela Keler
Across the Great Plains ...................................William Owens
     Jim Wehrman, Guest Conductor
Parade of the Tall Ships ................................. Jay Chattaway
     Kurt Bauche, Guest Conductor
Golden Bear March............................................... J.J. Richards
Toccata for Band.............................................. Frank Erickson
     Daniel Lewis, Guest Conductor
A Disney Spectacular ............................................... John Moss
On the Mall .........................................Edwin Franko Goldman

GUEST CONDUCTOR, James Wehrman, joined the St. Louis Symphony as a member of the French horn section in 1987. He holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree from Indiana University, where he studied with the legendary Philip Farkas. Prior to coming to St. Louis, he held the position of Associate Professor of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His teaching tenure includes adjunct positions with Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. He is currently Music Director of the AIM Band in Kirkwood, sings in the choir at First Presbyterian Church, and is an administrator for Chamber Music Society of St. Louis.

GUEST CONDUCTOR, Daniel Lewis, has taught band for nine years and has a bachelor of arts in music, a masters in education, and a minor in jazz studies from Truman State University. Over the past six years, he has worked at McCluer High School in the Ferguson-Florissant School District. Prior to McCluer, he taught middle and high school bands at the Ralls County R-II school district in Center, Missouri.

07/05/2022NO CONCERT
06/28/2022Concert #3 @ Heman Park; 7pm
Celebration Fanfare!.................................... Gary Gackstatter
Star Spangled Banner...................................Francis Scott Key
Army of the Nile................................................Kenneth Alford
Concerto for French Horn Opus 8......Franz Strauss/Yeago
1. Allegro Molto
Thomas Jöstlein, French Horn
Rifle Regiment................................................John Philip Sousa
Moon River................................................Henry Mancini/Bond
INTERMISSION
American Big Top............................................Brian Balmages
Dale Skornia, Conductor
Ukrainian National Anthem.........................Arr. Gackstatter
Amazing Grace.......................................John Newton/Jostlein
Thomas Jöstlein, Alphorn
Klaus Jöstlein, Violin
Armed Forces Salute.............................................Arr. Lowden
Rushmore......................................................Alfred Reed
Stars and Stripes Forever...........................John Philip Sousa
On the Mall..........................................Edwin Franko Goldman

GUEST SOLOIST, Thomas Jöstlein, has been the Associate Principal Horn with the St. Louis Symphony since 2010. From 2007-2009, Jöstlein was the New York Philharmonic’s Assistant Principal Horn. Previously, he held positions with the Honolulu, Omaha, Richmond, and Kansas City symphony orchestras and performed in summer festivals in Oregon, Ohio, Colorado, and North Carolina. He has served as Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Illinois, playing in the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra and Ian Hobson’s Sinfonia da Camera while teaching horn and orchestral repertoire. An active soloist, Jöstlein won First Prize in the professional division of the American Horn Competition in 2003 and the Grand Prize at the Hugo Kauder Music Competition at Yale University in 2005. In 2014, he appeared with hornist colleagues in the St. Louis Symphony as a soloist on Schumann’s Concertstück for Four Horns and Orchestra, op. 86. Thomas Jöstlein lives in University City with wife and fellow horn player Tricia and sons Klaus and Max.
06/21/2022Concert #2 @ 560 Trinity Ave (INSIDE); 7pm
INSIDE at the 560 Music Center at 560 Trinity Ave, University City.
FREE limited street parking and FREE parking in the garage behind the Center across the street from COCA.
See you there at 7pm!
 
Celebration Fanfare! ............................. Gary Gackstatter
Exaltations! ...............................................William Owens
Balladair ...................................................... Frank Erickson
Selections from the Music Man........Meredith Wilson/Lang
Hoe Down ................................................ Aaron Copland/Moss
Washington Post March........................John Philip Sousa
Delmar Garden March......................... Ernesto Natiello/Pappas
A Musical Fantasy.....................................Enio Savere
Prelude and Rondo ................................ David Holsinger
Pop & Rock Legends: Chicago ...........Arr. John Wasson
On the Mall March....................................Edwin Franko Goldman
06/14/2022**CANCELED due to heat. Keep an eye here for next Tuesday's plan.** We're Back!! (Concert #1)

**CANCELED due to heat. Keep an eye here for next Tuesday's plan.**

 
Celebration Fanfare!...............Gary Gackstatter
Exhaltations!...............................William Owens
Balladair .......................................Frank Erickson
Lustspiel Overture.....................Bela Keler
Washington Post March.........John Philip Sousa
INTERMISSION
Delmar Garden March............Ernesto Natiello/Pappas
A Musical Fantasy......................Enio Savere
On the Loop.................................Joe Pappas
The Music Man..........................Meredith Willson/Lang
On the Mall March..................Edwin Franko Goldman
 
Director Thomas Poshak received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan. He retired in 2001 after a 30 year career as a high school band director. Mr. Poshak taught in the US Virgin Islands, in Ladue, Missouri, and was the band director and music coordinator for the Kirkwood School District from 1985 until 2001. Under his direction, the Ladue Symphonic Band performed at the MMEA convention in 1982, and the Kirkwood Symphonic Band received Honor I ratings at MSHSAA Festivals for twelve consecutive years and Gold Ratings at music festivals in Atlanta, Chicago, and Nashville. He has held offices in the Missouri Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association, and is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Missouri Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha. In 2001, he received the Music Educator of the Year award from the SLSMEA and in 2004 received the Hall of Fame Award. Mr. Poshak is also the music director for the Saint Louis Wind Symphony.
07/23/2019Concert #6; Around the World in Six Concerts; 7pm
Celebration Fanfare!.................Gary Gackstatter
Thunder and Blazes..................Julius Fucik/Laurendeau
Symphonic Overture .................Charles Carter
     Bette Welch, Guest Conductor
Up in the Air! .............................Lisle Moore, Jr./Holsinger
Postcards from the Heartlands....Jared Spears
   INTERMISSION
Fanfare: Nova Lux ......................Gary Gackstatter
     Gary Gackstatter, Guest Conductor/Composer
Lullaby for Evangelina ................Gary Gackstatter
     Gary Gackstatter, Guest Conductor/Composer
Havendance..................................David Holsinger
Broadway Classics.........................Arr. Larry Norrad
On the Mall March..........................Edwin Franko Goldman

Director Thomas Poshak received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan. He retired in 2001 after a 30 year career as a high school band director. Mr. Poshak taught in the US Virgin Islands, in Ladue, Missouri, and was the band director and music coordinator for the Kirkwood School District from 1985 until 2001. Under his direction, the Ladue Symphonic Band performed at the MMEA convention in 1982, and the Kirkwood Symphonic Band received Honor I ratings at MSHSAA Festivals for twelve consecutive years and Gold Ratings at music festivals in Atlanta, Chicago, and Nashville. He has held offices in the Missouri Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association, and is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Missouri Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha. In 2001, he received the Music Educator of the Year award from the SLSMEA and in 2004 received the Hall of Fame Award. Mr. Poshak is also the music director for the Saint Louis Wind Symphony.

Guest Conductor/Composer Gary Gackstatter is an active artist, composer, conductor, performer, and teacher, and is currently conductor of the symphonic band and orchestra at St. Louis Community College at Meramec. Prior to coming to Missouri, Gackstatter built and maintained outstanding music programs in Oklahoma and Kansas public schools, at Southwestern and Cowley Colleges in Kansas, and directed bands at Wichita State University. He is a 2006 Kansas Governor’s Arts Award recipient for Individual Multi-Genre Artist. His creative output includes five symphonies that combine the arts, several recordings of original music for voice and guitar, the book Pen and Ink, featuring his artwork and writings, and many works for band and orchestra published by C Alan Publications. He is directly responsible for many regional art events, including symphonic debuts, internationally known guest artists, and projects combining multiple art forms. His published compositions are performed internationally, and his vision to combine the various arts genres in performances has gained national attention. Gary’s most recent composition Symphony Chaco: A Journey of the Spirit was a multimedia production about Chaco Canyon, NM, that premiered in 2016. He was commissioned by the UCity Summer Band to compose Celebration Fanfare! in 2016 for the band’s 20th Anniversary season.

Guest Conductor Bette Welch earned a degree in music education from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. She has served as music director in Fulton County Community Schools in Cuba, IL, at First United Methodist Church in East Alton, IL, and at SS Peter and Paul Church in Collinsville, IL, and as interim director of music at University United Methodist Church. She is currently the director of orchestra at University United Methodist Church in University City, MO. Bette is a playing member of Band Together, University City Summer Band, and St. Louis Wind Symphony. She has appeared as guest conductor with Band Together as well as guest conductor with UC Summer Band on numerous occasions. When not performing, she is a practicing CPA and owns her own firm in Shrewsbury.
07/18/2019CANCELED ~ Excessive Heat ~ Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site Concert
CANCELED ~ Excessive Heat
07/16/2019Concert #5; Around the World in Six Concerts; 7pm
Celebration Fanfare!.......................... Gary Gackstatter
On the Loop....................................... Joe Pappas
Australian Up-Country Tune............. Percy Grainger/Bainum
English Folk Song Suite.................... Ralph Vaughn Williams
   III. March: Folk Songs from Somerset
Florentiner March ............................. Julius Fucik/Bourgeois
       Erica Neidlinger, Guest Conductor
Big Band Spectacular......................... Arr. John Higgins
   INTERMISSION
Down by the Riverside........................ Arr. John Rutter
American Hymnsong Suite................. Dwayne Milburn
   2. Ballad on “Balm in Gillead”
   3. Schezo on “Nettleton”
   4. March on “Wilson
       Erica Neidlinger, Guest Conductor
The Wizard of Oz............................... Harold Arlen/Barnes
On the Mall March............................. Edwin Franko Goldman

Director Thomas Poshak received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of Michigan. He retired in 2001 after a 30 year career as a high school band director. Mr. Poshak taught in the US Virgin Islands, in Ladue, Missouri, and was the Band Director and Music Coordinator for the Kirkwood School District from 1985 until 2001. Under his direction, the Ladue Symphonic Band performed at the MMEA convention in 1982, and the Kirkwood Symphonic Band received Honor I ratings at MSHSAA Festivals for twelve consecutive years and Gold Ratings at music festivals in Atlanta, Chicago, and Nashville. He has held offices in the Missouri Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association, and is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Missouri Bandmasters Association. and Phi Mu Alpha. In 2001, he received the Music Educator of the Year award from the SLSMEA and in 2004 received the Hall of Fame Award. Mr. Poshak is also the Music Director for the Saint Louis Wind Symphony.

Guest Conductor Erica Neidlinger is the associate professorand conductor of the Wind Symphony at DePaul University. Her additional responsibilities include teaching conducting and instrumental music education courses. Dr. Neidlinger has conducted performances across the United States and in Europe. She has traveled to Singapore and Canada as an ensemble adjudicator and clinician. She has been featured as a guest conductor and clinician in Latvia and will guest conduct in Moscow this September. Presentations at international conferences include the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Killarney, Ireland, and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. She has also conducted honor bands and presented at many conferences across the United States. Before teaching at DePaul, Dr. Neidlinger served on the faculty at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and The Ohio State University. She is also a former conductor of the Nebraska Wind Symphony. Dr. Neidlinger completed her doctoral degree at the University of Minnesota under the supervision of Professor Craig Kirchhoff. In addition, she holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She began her teaching career as director of bands in the Piper School District, Kansas City, Kansas. Erica is a graduate of Ladue High School, where her band directors were Tom Poshak and Jerry Luckhardt.