GUEST CONDUCTOR … Josh Boyer, a 2003 Hilltop High School graduate and a former Bryan City band member, served as guest conductor at the Bryan City Band concert on Wednesday, July 22. Boyer, who is currently the band director at Olentangy Orange High School located just outside of Columbus, directed the band to perform the song, “Days of Glory”.
PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
FINAL CONCERT … The Bryan City Band concluded its 175th season with its final concert of the season on Wednesday, July 22. Highlighting the concert was a commissioned song, “Fountains”, composed by Matthew Gallant of New York City performed as a tribute to the band’s 175th anniversary. VIEW 67 PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
On a cool and perfect summer evening, the Bryan City Band concluded its 2026 season with a concert on Wednesday, July 22, at the bandstand located on the Williams County Courthouse Square.
Performing before an estimated crowd of 300 people, the highlight of the concert was the performance of the commissioned piece, “Fountains,” which was part of the 175th edition of the band, which started in 1852.
A COMMISSIONED PIECE
Being the 175th anniversary of the Bryan City Band, band director Terry Krause told the audience the band wanted to do something special. They had a piece commissioned by Matthew Gallant, who is a composer from New York City.
“Thanks very much to the Bryan Area Foundation for giving us a grant to get this done,” said Krause. “When I finally got it in, I was expecting something kind of celebratory.”
It wasn’t a celebratory piece. Gallant had researched Bryan and found out it was once called the “Fountain City,” and built the piece around that discovery.
Krause said that Gallant based the piece on two different things: his impression of flowing water and fountains, and, since it’s the 175th anniversary of the Bryan City Band, he based the melody on the first, fifth, and seventh notes of the scale.
“It’s also a challenge for the band because most of the songs we play are pretty standard songs from two to four beats a measure,” Krause commented.
“This is seven beats in a measure through the whole song. It’s very challenging to do that when you’re not used to doing this. It’s an interesting and surprising piece.”
Following the six-minute band performance of “Fountains,” Krause admitted it was a little different, and he realized that after he had counted to seven beats all day long.
He was contacted by Gallant several days earlier and was asked if the song had been recorded, despite Gallant not having heard it performed other than on his own computer.
GUEST CONDUCTOR JOSH BOYER
The concert was highlighted by a guest conductor, Josh Boyer, who is a 2003 Hilltop High School graduate and was a member of the band under Krause, who at the time was the school’s band director.
Boyer graduated from Ohio University, where he was the field commander of the marching band and later served as an assistant band director.
He is currently beginning his fourth year as band director at Olentangy Orange High School, located outside of Columbus. “I want to thank Terry (Krause) for coming here and conducting tonight,” said Boyer.
“Polly (Krause) and I were talking a little bit earlier and kind of figured out that 25 years ago (2001) was my first summer where I played in this band and learned the skills and started to build my repertoire of abilities to become a band director in my future. I owe a lot to this band and this organization for many years.”
Boyer directed the band in the song “Days of Glory,” which premiered in 1964 and was written in the style of Civil War-era marches, using folk tunes to bring military aspects to the music.
“It’s a good opportunity to come back and reconnect with a lot of great friends I’ve had and met over the years and give back to the organization that really got my start playing a lot of music as a young student in high school,” said Boyer.
Boyer has maintained a close relationship with Krause over the years, and coming back to Bryan was a special highlight for him.
“To be invited to come back and get the opportunity to conduct this group is just a really cool experience for me and brings back a lot of good memories,” Boyer said.
“He (Krause) got me started on this path and I’m really grateful for him. He’s taught me over the years with his mentorship, leadership and really his friendship through all these years and helping me all along as my career progressed.”
As the Bryan City Band celebrated its 175th anniversary, Boyer pointed out that community bands are a huge part of American culture.
“We’re really fortunate here in Bryan to have an outstanding group that’s been around for many years, and it’s the second oldest in the nation,” Boyer said.
“Not just performing in Bryan but performing really all around the country in different events throughout the years. It’s a well-known organization, and everybody here is proud to be a part of it.”
THE REST OF THE PROGRAM
The concert featured a variety of music, including a medley of songs by Frank Sinatra and The Beach Boys, along with an “At the Movies: The Classics” segment featuring music from various motion pictures from the past, including “The Parade of the Charioteers” from the 1959 film Ben-Hur and the “Aspen Overture” from 1981.
Hootenanny featured a medley of folk songs from the 1960s, and the concert concluded with the “Roughriders March.”
The 175th edition of the Bryan City Band closed out with the traditional “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner,” sung by Dave Perkins of Bryan, who has been performing both songs for the past 25 years.
“It’s an integral part of what makes Bryan, and the band has been around since 1852, but it has been involved too,” said Perkins.
“All sorts of great things happen, and they happen a little better because the Bryan City Band has been a part of it.”
SHOWING APPRECIATION
Krause showed his appreciation by publicly thanking Bryan Mayor Carrie Schlade, the Bryan Kiwanis for helping the band out, the Bryan Street Department for bringing the band trailer back and forth, the Bryan Area Foundation for funding the commissioned piece, The Village Reporter and Bryan Times for their reporting, Bryan City Schools for letting the band use its facilities and equipment, and Cindy Rau of the Parks and Recreation Department, who has printed music for the band every week.
He also thanked the band members who come from all over Northwest Ohio to perform concerts this summer, with the youngest member being just an eighth grader.
“A big, big thanks to all of you who week after week come out and see us in the heat, the cold, and you’re a very faithful audience, and we appreciate it very much, and we thank you,” Krause told the crowd.
