The Wheaton Municipal Band is made up of 90-96 musicians; some professional music educators, some college students, and some who enjoy playing as a hobby and for enjoyment.  Each year, each member of the band must audition for a spot in the band.  Auditions are competitive and very challenging; the level of performance of the band is quite high.  Auditions are based on 3 short "sight reading" pieces, and are "blind".  This means that each person who auditions goes into a room and plays behind a screen, so the judges cannot see who auditions, and the person auditioning cannot see who judges.  The player must perform 3 pieces of music they have never seen before, with only a few seconds to look at each piece before they play.  The minimum age requirement for the band is 15, but anyone (Wheaton resident or not) may audition.  The band is funded almost entirely by the City of Wheaton, with some assistance from the "Friends" of the band group.  All members who are accepted to the band, and substitute players who are called in, receive a small stipend for each concert they play.  Most players, however, will say that the reward of performing high quality music in a great band is its own reward.  The band, over its 74-year history, has always attracted some of the finest musical talent in the Chicagoland area.

Band officers and staff for 2008 season:

Jean Austin, Band Commission Chair, City of Wheaton

Dr. Bruce Moss, Music Director/Conductor
Pete Friedmann, Announcer

Steve Klaus, General/Personnel Manager
Jim Boyle, Band Business Manager
Daryl Beese, Band President/Webmaster
Don Cavalli, Band Vice President
Deb Zelman, Band Secretary
Barb Austin, Carol Kierzyk, Barbara Saks, Band Trustees

Christina Wallbruch and Nancy Flanagan, Band Librarians/Uniform Custodians

Sean Gaertner, Band Recording Technician

Jen Taylor, Band Publicity Manager