About the Band

Carl 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.  Pam Potter then conducted the band for 20 years.  In the summer of 2014, the baton was then passed on to Keith Wiemelt.  

The Park Band is a full symphonic band boasting a total roster of over 110 musicians ranging in age from 16 to 80 years of age. Each concert features 70 to 80 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. image

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 beautiful parks 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,  concert co-sponsors and the Recording Industries Music Performance Trust Funds.

Current concert sponsors include:   Schuecking’s Men’s Wear,  Exchange Club of Quincy;   First Bankers Trust;  The Quincy Herald-Whig; WGEM, and Refreshment Services Pepsi.

The Park Band has enjoyed the privilege of performing under the baton of several well known guest conductors including Colonel John R. Bourgeois, former conductor of the United States Marine Band;  Colonel Arnald Gabriel, former conductor of the United States Air Force Band and Singing Sergeants; Commander Allen Beck, former conductor of the United States Navy Band; and well known composer/arranger and conductor, Jerry Nowak.   In 2009, Jerry Nowak dedicated his new arrangement of “Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” to Conductor Pam Potter and the Park Band.

Guest soloists have included Dale Underwood former alto saxophone soloist with the United States Navy Band, Dr. Gregory Jones Trumpet Professor at Truman State University, MGySgt Philip Franke euphonium United States Marine Band, Dr Keith Winking Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Texas State University, Dr Kenneth Steinsultz euphonium Assistant Professor and Director of Bands at Evansville University,  and local musicians including Bob Havens former trombonist with the Lawrence Welk Orchestra, Fred Cherny euphonium, Dr. Joseph Dieker clarinet, Eddie Allen clarinet, and Michael Saul French horn.

Keith PictureIn 2004 the Park Band performed at the newly dedicated World War II Memorial and at the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC, and in 2005 served as host of the 27th National Convention of the Association of Concert Bands.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS                                                                                                                           

 

Jeffrey Schuecking, President
Alan Kanauss, Vice-President
Mary Demers, Secretary
Linda Beers, Treasurer
Keith Wiemelt,  Conductor & Music Director
Louis Demers
Charlotte Stroot
Pam Potter, Conductor Emeritus

 

 

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.