Municipal Band thriving in their 128th year

By Rebecca Sponsler | June 26, 2024

By Hannah Gaffner, Advocate News Staff

Our city has been blessed by the performances of the Municipal Band for over 100 years. These concerts, taking place in the summer months and put on at various locations throughout Greenville, feature hits played by community members. The band was formed in 1896 and their first concert was in May of 1897. U.S. DeMoulin, co-founder of the band, and his brothers Ed and Erastus DeMoulin also later joined as performers in the Greenville Concert Band.

Chris Woods is the current band director, and he will retire this year after leading the band for 29 years. Ralph Montgomery, Howard Kinney, Clark Brandt, and Maurice McAdow are a few former directors.

There are currently 40 band members making up the Municipal Band, participating from Bond, Fayette, Madison, and St. Clair counties. Age is not a factor when it comes to playing in the band. This is represented through the eldest band member, Everett Sanders, who is 95 years old, and the youngest band member, Anderson Cox, who is 15 years old. Everett Sanders has been in the band the longest with a time span of 47 years.

Another aspect of the band is the makeup of families that participate amongst each other. Ranging from sons and daughters, couples, to grandparents. Shawn Cox performs in the band, amongst his sons Jonathan and Anderson Cox. Everett Sanders, the father of performer Greg Sanders. Dianah Kuhl-Troemel, mother of Nate Troemel (also related to Everett and Greg Sanders). Elizabeth O’Dell, mother of Nathan Klass. Marsha Nelson, mother to Megan McPeak, grandmother to William and Wesley Sussenbach, and Caitlin McPeak. Ryan Thomason and Melissa Thomason parents of Emily Thomason. Couple Catherino Burge and Paul Schorsch. As well as couple David and Patricia Pence.

A full list of band members include Ashley Abrahamson, Bill Archibald, Wyatt Boyer, Catherine Burge, Anderson Cox, Jonathan Cox, Shawn Cox, Greg Delamarter, Gary Dollinger, Julie-Anne Erickson, Lorna Gaffney, Meghan Garman, Nathan Klass, Beth Lawler, Caitlin McPeak, Megan McPeak, Ellyn Miller, Marsha Nelson, Elizabeth O’Dell, David Pence, Patricia Pence, Katie Peppler, Katelyn Ridens, Everett Sanders, Greg Sanders, Paul Schorsch, Wesley Sussenbach, William Sussenbach, Kathryn Taylor, Emily Thomason, Melissa Thomas, Ryan Thomason, Dianiah Kulh-Troemel, Nate Troemel, Camden Walker, Nico Waugh, Louise Weiss, Elizabeth Wilkinson, Michael Wilson, and Garrett Young. Band board members are Dale Martin, Shawn Cox, Dianiah Kulh-Troemel, Marilyn Richards, and Chris Woods.

If you would like to check out the band perform this summer their next concert is Thursday, June 27th, at 7 p.m. at the Greenville University Arch, 315 East College Avenue. Their following concert is Saturday, July 6th, at 5 p.m. at the 1st United Methodist Church, 310 South 2nd Street. You do not want to miss the opportunity to hear the talent these Municipal Band members have to offer our community.