Performances
The Glendale Summer Band performs for eight consecutive Thursday evenings, beginning the first Thursday of June. The only exception to this is when a holiday falls on one of these Thursdays. In that case, the concert is moved to Wednesday evening. All performances take place at 8 p.m. in the Glendale Amphitheatre located at Glendale City Hall, 5850 W. Glendale Avenue, adjacent to Murphy Park.
Rehearsals
The Glendale Summer Band is open to membership to any adult and selected high school students who play a wind or percussion instrument. There are no formal auditions, but each person is self-auditioning, making their own decision about which section they wish to play in. This, of course, is to accommodate the wide range of playing proficiencies found in the group.
The Glendale Summer band rehearses on the Tuesday evening prior to each performance. There is an extra rehearsal two weeks before the first performance. The rehearsals take place in the band room at Glendale High School,
6216 W. Glendale Ave. Rehearsals begin at
7 p.m. and last until approximately 9 p.m.
About Band Attendance
Due to vacation schedules and other commitments, not all members of the band are able to perform in all eight concerts. It is asked that each person participate as much as possible.
Special Opportunities for School Teachers, Grades 1-12
The Glendale Summer Band provides a “Professional Growth Certificate” for those educators who need clock hour credit for the renewal of their teaching credentials. These certificates are provided at the end of the season.
For more information about the Summer Band program, call (623) 930-2299.
About the Audience
The audiences consist of people of all ages. Grandparents, small children, and all ages in between enjoy the concerts. The Amphitheatre does not provide seating. Each audience member brings a lawn chair or blankets for seating on the grass lawn or brick walkways that traverse the area. Concert admission is free; however, a voluntary donation is gladly accepted to further the growth of the band’s music library. Snacks and refreshments are for sale at the concerts.
The Band History
The city of Glendale Summer Band has continually operated since its inception in 1966. The group was conducted for 22 years by the founding director, E. Lowell Rogers. Although the founding group predated the present city hall, it provided the inspiration for the construction of the amphitheatre in which the band currently performs.
Support the Glendale Summer Band
The Glendale Summer Band, presented by Glendale’s Office of Special Events, can use additional support and you can do that by attending the concerts and donating to the band. While much of the money that is donated goes to the band’s music library, some money is used to help support the band in other ways such as equipment repairs and programs. Thanks to the generous support of the community in the past, the band’s music library has nearly doubled to 400 titles in the past few years. With the band performing about 12 selections each concert, or nearly 100 selections each summer, it is important that the library continues to grow. We hope that we can add several new titles each year to enhance your experience. Donation Form (pdf)
Band Leadership
About the Conductor - Ken Jaeger
At the time he retired in 2007, Ken Jaeger was the Band Director and Performing/Visual Arts Department Chairman at Westview High School. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Arizona State University and his Master of Science in Fine Arts degree from Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon. Prior to coming to Westview, Ken was the Band Director at Tolleson High School for 14 years. Ken has served as Arizona Music Educators Association (AMEA) President, Vice President of High School Activities and Editor of the Arizona Music News for which he also wrote over 30 articles on music education.
Under Ken Jaeger the Westview and Tolleson Bands received over 100 high ratings at concert and marching festivals and more than 300 music awards overall. Ken has received numerous awards himself over the years including the George C. Wilson Leadership/Service Award, the Eldon Ardrey Commemorative Presidential Award and the William E. Richardson Retired Member Service Award from AMEA. He has been selected to “Who’s Who in Education” six times and “Who’s Who in America” twice.
Prior to taking over as Director of the City of Glendale Summer Band, Ken was a playing member for 17 years, Band Manager for 12 years and served as principal guest conductor, conducting six concerts in 2001 and all eight concerts in 2009 when the director was on medical leave.
Ken and his wife Dana are longtime residents of Glendale and have two adult daughters, Jillian and Brittany.
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Summer Band Schedule 
