Municipal Bands A Favorite Of Summer Across Illinois

By Tom Emery

Times may change, but some things stay the same. Fortunately for music lovers in the Riverbend

and statewide, the municipal band is a constant, a cherished part of the summer landscape in many communities for decades.

Across Illinois and the nation, musicians in communities large and small keep the tunes playing for a devoted following, spending their precious time and using their own instruments on warm nights throughout the season. And mostly, it’s for the love of it.

“It gives me great pleasure to play in the band,” said Laurence Buxbaum, a retired artist who has played clarine...