The 29th season of the Buttermilk Festival concert series has been announced by the Fond du Lac Symphonic Band. In addition to serving as resident ensemble, the Symphonic Band hosts and produces the free, summer-long Festival, held at the Wifler Performance Center in Buttermilk Creek Park, Fond du Lac. The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, led by Assistant Conductor Yaniv Dinur, will open this year’s Festival with its 20th Festival performance on June 21, featuring pops and light classics by Bernstein, Brahms, Copland, Rossini, Lerner and Loewe, and John Williams. The Dorf Kapelle will return for its 21st Festival appearance on July 5, with vocals by Ernie, Sam and Abby Broeniman. The fifteen-piece village band is a perennial favorite at festivals and events around Wisconsin, performing the music of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. On July 19 the Fond du Lac High School Summer Band will return in a joint concert with the GHO Symphonic Band from Heide, Germany – the 8th such group to be presented through the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp International Touring Program. The 59-piece German group will also perform at Holy Family Church at 7:00 p.m. on July 18. The Water City Jazz Orchestra is a newer regional “big band” based in Oshkosh. They will perform on August 2, led by drummer Mike Malone and trumpeter Kurt Shipe. A native of Fond du Lac. Winding up the list of guest performers for 2017 will be the ever-popular Kids from Wisconsin, making their 23rd Festival appearance on August 16. Included in the troupe of 20 singers/dancers and 13 instrumentalists are talented young entertainers from Mayville, Plymouth, Kohler and various other Wisconsin communities. The Fond du Lac Symphonic Band’s Festival performances this year include the opening concert on June 28, Family Night on July 12, The Musical Stage on July 26, a night featuring new and exciting band music on August 9, and Music Around the World on August 23. The Band’s local summer appearances, which are sponsored by the City of Fond du Lac, also include the July 4 Americana Concert, 7:30 p.m. at Lakeside Park preceding the fireworks on the lakefront. A food concession, run by local non-profit organizations, is available at every concert. While all Buttermilk Festival concerts are free of charge, free-will offerings are received to help defray costs. In the event of unsuitable weather, concerts will be moved to the Fond du Lac County fairgrounds. For further information on the Festival, email fdlsymphonicband@gmail.com , contact Symphonic Band Manager Mary Arthur at 907-7678, or visit the Band’s website at www.fdlsymphonicband.com.
