MARSHFIELD – For more than 130 years, the Marshfield Civic Band has been a part of the community, bringing music to local audiences while carrying on a tradition that dates back to the late 1800s.
The band performs throughout Marshfield each summer and occasionally in neighboring communities, including Spencer.
Its next performance will be the Annual Sousa Concert on July 15 at 7 p.m. at UWSP at Marshfield.
Freewill donations will be accepted to help support the band and preserve its long-standing tradition.
The organization has gone through several transformations over the years.
Before it officially formed, local musicians gathered regularly at the old Marshfield City Hall to rehearse without a formal organization.
In 1895, they recruited A.P. Adams, a music store owner from Neillsville, to direct the group after securing him a teaching position in the Marshfield school district.
The musicians officially organized as the Badger State Band and performed under that name for four years.
In 1899, following the Spanish-American War, Marshfield's musicians were selected as the Second Regiment Band of the Wisconsin National Guard.
Adams remained director while Fred W. Kohl served as drum major.
The band's military affiliation continued for the next 62 years.
That same year, Theodore Steinmetz joined the band and later became its director.
During military training in Waco, Texas, he composed the "Thirty-Second Division March," which was recognized in 1948 as one of the 10 "Wisconsin Songs That Live" by the State of Wisconsin's Centennial Committee on Music.
The band was reorganized several times throughout the first half of the 20th century, serving as the 127th Infantry Band during World War I, the American Legion Band, and later the 135th Medical Regiment Band. During World War II.
Members served overseas in Australia and New Guinea, where they helped build a base hospital and performed for wounded service members.
While the military band was deployed, Marshfield formed a municipal band to continue providing music for community events.
After World War II, the organization became the Marshfield Civil Air Patrol Band before officially dropping its military affiliation in 1961 and becoming the Marshfield Civic Band.
Lt. Anton J. Kraemer directed the band until 1963, when James A. Rasmussen took over.
Rasmussen led the organization until retiring in 2001, passing the baton to Robert Johanek, who has now served as director for 25 years.
Three years ago, Associate Director David Carroll joined the organization.
Despite the many changes in name and affiliation throughout its history, the band's mission has remained the same: bringing live concert music to the Marshfield community.
Under Johanek and Carroll, the Civic Band continues that tradition through its summer concert series.
July 15 at 7 p.m. at UWSP at Marshfield for the Annual Sousa Concert
July 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Marshfield Public Library
July 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Columbia Park in Marshfield
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