Greenville University represented in Greenville Municipal Band
Published: June 29, 2024
Author: W. Boyer
For over 100 years, the Municipal Band has blessed the City of Greenville with its performances. These concerts occur in the summer at locations throughout Greenville and feature hits played by community band members.
The Municipal Band, which started as The Greenville Concert Band, was formed in 1896, and its first concert was held in May of 1897. U.S. DeMoulin, co-founder of the band, and his brothers Ed and Erastus later joined as performers.
Chris Woods, a former professor at GC/GU from 1994 to 2001, assumed the role of director of The Municipal Band in 2005. Woods is planning to retire after this season. Past directors include Ralph Montgomery, Howard Kinney, Clark Brandt, and Maurice McAdow are a few former directors.
The Municipal Band has 40 members from Bond, Fayette, Madison, and St. Clair counties. One of the most unique things about playing in the band is the diversity of age ranges. The eldest band member, clarinetist Everett Sanders, is 95 years old, graduating from Greenville College in 1950. Sanders has spent forty-seven years with the Municipal Band. The youngest band member, Anderson Cox, is a saxophonist and is 15 years old.
Of the 40 members in the Municipal Band, nine are Greenville University alums, two are current GU students, nine are emeriti faculty or staff, and two are current staff members.
Greenville University alumni include:
- Megan McPeak BME 2001, Master of Education 2009
- Dianah Kul-Troemel 1994
- Kathryn Taylor BS English Education 1989, MS Reading Specialists 2017
- Marsha Nelson BA French 1973
- Shawn Cox BME (Year ???), and Masters (Year ???)
- Ashley Abrahamson BA Music Composition 2019, MA Teaching, Elementary Education 2021
- Greg Sanders BA Music and BA Psychology 1980
- Everett Sanders BA 1950
- Wyatt Boyer BS Digital Media and BS Audio Engineering 2023
Current Greenville University students include:
- Katie Peppler 2025
- Meghan Garmon 2025
Current Greenville University faculty and staff include:
- Dr. Chris Woods, Music Department 1994-2021
- Catherine Burge, Music Department 2007-2021
- Ashley Abrahamson, Music Department 2019-2021
- Everett Sanders, Music Department 1954-1995
- Greg Sanders, Sociology Department 1991-2015
- Bill Archibald, Music Department Adjunct (Years ???)
- Louise Weiss, Music Department 1984-2019
- Paul Schorsch, Music Department Adjunct (Years ???)
- David Pence, Music Department Adjunct (Years ???)
Current Greenville University faculty and staff include:
- Kathryn Taylor, Chief Academic Officer, 1998-Present
- Wyatt Boyer, Social Media Coordinator, Band Assistant, 2023-Present
