About the Band

The Green Bay City Band performs free concerts every summer for hundreds of Green Bay residents. The concerts are typically held Wednesday nights from June through August at St. James Park.

History of the band

The Green Bay City Band was organized in 1902 by M.J. Heynen and was known as the Heynen Band. In 1910 it became known as the Green Bay Concert Band, and seven years later, the American Legion Band. In 1921 the name was changed to the Green Bay City Band, the name it retains today.

Although there were interim conductors while "Prof" Heynen was out of the city, he retained control as music director until his retirement in 1937.

A sepia toned image of M.J. Heynen posing with a clarinet looking off to the side — M.J. Heynen

Heynen named Ernest W. Stiller as his successor in 1937. Stiller continued as director until 1959, when he turned the baton over to Donald Barber as director and William Johnson as manager and assistant director with instructions to "keep the band going".

Ernest W. Stiller looking into the camera while conducting — Ernest W. Stiller

Don Barber served 21 years as director of the band. During his tenure, the band's home base was moved from Whitney Park to St. James Park, where it remains today.

St. James Park was chosen to accommodate the use of the carillon in First Lutheran Church, which had been installed by the Kaap family. Otto Kaap, local restaurateur and percussionist with the band, hired carillonneurs from both Europe and America to present concert numbers with the band, such as "1812 Overture" by Tchaikovsky and Moussorgsky's "Great Gate of Kiev."

A black and white group photo of the 1969 Green Bay City Band posed on risers. — Green Bay City Band - 1969

In 1980 the band toured Poland, playing 10 concerts in two weeks in Wroclaw, Poznan, Krakow, Lublin, and Warsaw suburbs. Upon Barber's resignation in the spring of 1981, Wayne J. Shepardson served as director for one year. In 1982 the board of directors selected Clare Hounsell as director and Greg Sauve as assistant conductor.

Clare Hounsell conducting the band on an old multi-colored band shell. The band is wearing light-blue suit jackets. — Clare Hounsell Conducts at the old band shell in the 80s

In 1988, the Green Bay City Band toured China and Hong Kong during a two week concert tour. Clare Hounsell continued as the City Band director until his retirement in 1990. The City Band Board of Directors selected Greg Sauve as Clare's replacement, Steve Bader as assistant conductor, and Clare Hounsell as Conductor Emeritus. Clare Hounsell continued his association with the Green Bay City Band as a guest conductor and band arranger until his passing in 2002.

Greg Sauve conducting in a red, white, and blue VFW Wisconsin polo shirt — Greg Sauve

Because the band has not missed a concert season since its first concert in 1903*, continuing even through the war years when many community bands ceased to perform, the Green Bay City Band is one of the oldest performing community bands in the United States.

*Due to the COVID 19 global pandemic, the Green Bay City Band did not play during the summer of 2020, and was welcomed back during the 2021 summer season.

A view from the back row of the band showing a full audience in the park listening to the band play. — Performing at St. James Park in the 90s
(Greg Sauve conducting)

A black and white photo of the band playing a concert at Bay Beach. The lawn is full of people sitting on blankets and folding chairs. — Performance at Bay Beach