The Quincy Park Band, Quincy, Illinois was founded in 1948 by noted Quincy musician and historian, Carl Landrum, for the purpose of performing public band concerts in the park on Sunday afternoons. Landrum managed and directed the band for 45 years until his retirement in 1993 when he passed the baton to his associate conductor Pam Potter who conducted the band for the next 20 years. In the summer of 2014, the baton was then passed to Keith Wiemelt. Keith lost his life in a tragic accident on July 18, 2022. He is succeeded by John Hume.
Keith Wiemelt
The Park Band is a full symphonic band Each concert features 60-65 highly qualified musicians from all walks of life, many of whom are music educators & music professionals. The Park Band performs on a Wenger Showmobile, purchased in 1995 with a generous donation from an anonymous foundation.
The mission of the QPB is to perform free public concerts for the citizens of Quincy and the surrounding tri-state area in Quincy’s Madison Park during the summer months, and to provide a quality performing opportunity for local musicians of all ages. The Park Band is committed to performing excellent band literature in a professional manner. Concerts are presented during June and July with the traditional season opening concert occurring on Memorial Day. The band exists solely on individual donations from the public and concert sponsors. Current concert sponsors include: Quincy Service Club, Schuecking’s Men’s Wear, First Bankers Trust, The Quincy Herald-Whig, and Refreshment Services Pepsi.
Under Potter’s leadership the Park Band performed in 2004 at the newly dedicated World War II Memorial and the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC, and in 2005 served as host of the 27th National Convention of the Association of Concert Bands. The band has also enjoyed the privilege of performing under the baton of several renowned guest conductors and has featured several nationally known soloists including:
Colonel John R. Bourgeois, USMC (Ret.), the 25th Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. His acclaimed career spanned nine presidential administrations, from Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower to Bill Clinton. As Director of “The President’s Own,” Col. Bourgeois was Music Advisor to the White House. Since retiring from the Marine Band, he has been actively involved in music as a guest conductor, has published new editions of classic band compositions, and is a visiting professor in a chair endowed in his name at Loyola University in New Orleans. He appeared in Quincy to conduct the Pard Band on several occasions including the band’s 50th anniversary concert in 1998 and the Association of Concert Band annual convention hosted by the Park Band in 2005.
Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel was Commander/Conductor of the internationally renowned
U.S. Air Force Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Singing Sergeants from 1964 to 1985. During World War II, he served as a combat machine gunner with the US Army’s 29th Infantry Division on D-Day on Omaha Beach. For his service he received two Bronze Star medals, the Combat Infantry Badge and the French Croix de Guerre. In 1990, he was named the first Conductor Emeritus of the United States Air Force Band. Colonel Gabriel first conducted the Park Band on the Christmas Concert in 2002. He was so impressed with the band that he returned the twice more.
Commander Allen E. Beck, director of the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. was the first guest conductor featured by the Park Band.
Jerry Nowak, prominent composer/arranger conductor and teacher, traveled from Philadelphia, PA many times to conduct the Park Band. In 2009, Jerry Nowak dedicated his new arrangement of “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” to Conductor Pam Potter and the Quincy Park Band.
Dale Underwood, was alto saxophone soloist with the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, D.C. for 30 years. He is known as the “Heifetz of the Alto Saxophone” and has performed for U.S. presidents from Lyndon Johnson to William Clinton, and for Pope John Paul II in Rome. He established the International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium, and is currently Professor of Saxophone at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Dale has been featured soloist on six concerts with the Park Band between 2001 and 2021 and is looking forward to more.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Philip Franke U.S.M.C. (ret.), principal euphonium in the United States Marine Band, “The President’s Own” for over 30 years. Phil is a special friend of the Park Band, he is Quincy native, son of the late James & Connie Franke and former student of Charles Winking. He has performed frequently with the Park Band and has been featured soloist on numerous occasions most recently 2021 and the 75th anniversary concert July 2023.
Many others including: Fred Cherny, euphonium; Dr. Joe Dieker, clarinet; Dr. Kenneth Steinsultz, euphonium; Dr. Keith Winking, trumpet; Dr. Greg Jones, trumpet, Charles Brooks, trumpet.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jeff Schuecking, President
Alan Kanauss, Vice-President
Mary Demers, Secretary
Linda Beers, Treasurer
John Hume, Conductor
Pam Potter, Conductor Emeritus
Rebecca Washington
Cody Collins
Logo Designed by: Tim Haubrich
The Park Band logo depicts the State of Illinois with the ‘gem’ placed where Quincy is located . Quincy has been known for years as the ‘Gem City’. Quincy, known as Illinois’ “Gem City,” is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. Resting on the banks of the mighty Mississippi, Quincy thrives with history, architecture, the arts and nature.
