Simon Estes Stars in Thursday's Free Municipal Band Concert

Sign up for Ames Patch's free newsletter | Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter

Opera Bass-Baritone Simon Estes will sing three selections during Ames Municipal Band's fourth free concert of the season at Bandshell Park 8 p.m. Thursday.

Estes, a distinguished artist in residence at Iowa State University, plans to sing “God Bless America,” “You'll Never Walk Alone” and “Ol' Man River.”

This will be the Iowa celebrity's 11th performance with the band and attendees might want to come early to grab a seat. His appearances have drawn a crowd of more than 4,000 in the past said Michael Golemo, the band's director and director of bands at Iowa State University.

“He brings them in and he is amazing,” Golemo said.

Estes began soloing during the Municipal Band Concerts when Golemo became the band's director.

And while Estes appearances have become tradition in the last decade the Municipal Band has been in existence in Ames since 1924, Golemo said. There have been regular municipal concerts in Ames since 1910 and an Ames Cornet Band dates back to 1874.

Municipal bands are unique to the state of Iowa where a 1920s law allows municipalities to assess a band tax to provide local funds to support music, Golemo said.

Most community bands in Iowa are called municipal bands because every one gets paid a little bit, Golemo said.

Ames Municipal Band members are paid $20 a week if they show up to that week's rehearsal and the show.

Band members live in Ames and have participated in the band for many years. Golemo said many of them are not professional musicians, but they enjoy playing music and are very dedicated.

Free performances take place every Thursday in June and July. Each show highlights a vocalist and an instrumentalist.

Estes is Thursday's vocalist and Jonathan Sturm, concert master of the Des Moines Symphony will solo on the violin.

The free show begins at 8 p.m. The Ballard Community Band will perform a pre-show at 7 p.m. And representatives of the Ames City Council will pass out water and cookies before the show.