Indianapolis Symphonic Band

The Indianapolis Symphonic Band was founded in 1956 by Sandor Kallai, Harold Stadler and Robert Phillips. Phillips, a chemist with Dow, served as conductor and administrator from 1957 until his death in 1990. Charles P. Conrad was named director in 1994. The band performs about 15 concerts each season. The band is a volunteer ensemble made up of musicians from all walks of life and from all over central Indiana.

Members of the Indianapolis Symphonic Band will use period instruments and music to portray the Gentry Brothers Circus Band of 1900. Gentry Brothers was a dog and pony show from Bloomington that was the first playing and conducting experience for Hoosier composer Fred Jewell (1875-1936), who would become a legendary circus band leader and march writer. The music played by the 13-piece ensemble was written by Jewell early in his career, and the writing shows traits of orchestration for the smaller bands. Jewell's later work, which was written with Barnum and Bailey's Circus Band in mind, would be quite different in texture.

What do you love about brass band music?
I believe that many of today's finest composers are writing for concert band, wind ensemble, and brass band -- probably to a greater extent than ever before. While much of contemporary orchestral music has become overly complex and difficult to appreciate without studying the score, many writers are treating the band as a fresher medium, writing pieces that are enjoyable at first hearing without being trite or simplistic. I think that audiences are finding much to enjoy in recent band music, and that this trend will increase the audience for such music and ensembles.

What was your most shining moment?
Probably our performance at the 1995 Indiana Music Educators Conference and the regional meeting of the Music Educators National Conference. It is always a thrill to play before your colleagues, and the band accepted that challenge well.

Most requested song?
1. ``Stars and Stripes Forever'' by Sousa. 2. ``Washington Post'' by Sousa. 3. ``Bugler's Holiday'' by Leroy Anderson. 4. ``Irish Tune from County Derry'' by Grainger.

Travel time?
This is actually the band's first experience away from central Indiana.

Most interesting place to perform?
The Artsgarden at the new Circle Centre in downtown Indy. It is a glass-sided performing area that is suspended 24 feet above one of the busiest intersections in the city. Quite a view for both audience and performer.

Most receptive audience?
For the past 30 years, the ISB has played a series of summer concerts at the Glendale Center. We have a long-established audience, some of whom have missed few of the performances during those 30 years.

Little known fact?
The ISB is one of the few ensembles to own (and actually use on occasion) a contrabass sarrusophone.