A Helena summertime tradition: State Capital Band's free community concerts enter 122nd year (2024)

Off to the west, the summer sun decides to call it a day and begins its descent into the mountain skyline.

People clutching blankets and lawn chairs meander into the park, searching for the perfect patch of grass to sit on.

On the stage in front of them musicians sit ready with their fingers hovering above keys and lips pressed against mouthpieces.

Hugging up around the players is a colorful and patriotic arch in red, white and blue.

At 8 p.m. Thursday, June 27, conductor Rob Loveridge will lead the State Capital Band in its first summer concert of its 122nd consecutive year of playing for the Helena area. The free concerts are 8-9 p.m. every Thursday in the Memorial Park bandshell through Aug. 1.

“It’s so much fun playing and conducting it and looking back at the audience and everyone enjoying it,” Loveridge said.

The State Capital Band, initially named The Montana State Band, was formed in 1902 and gave its first open air concert on July 29, 1902, to 1,000 people. Today, the band perseveres in its annual tradition of serenading the Helena community during six evenings in the summer.

Loveridge, who has directed the State Capital Band for 17 years, has spent most of his life immersed in the world of band music. From playing in all-state bands throughout high school to a career total of 43 years of teaching band, including 28 years at Helena High School, band music has been the steady beat guiding him.

“I just really loved being in band,” said Loveridge. “I love the music and it was something I did really well.”

His entrance into the world of band music, however, was a bit of a comedic accident.

“It’s kind of a funny story,” Loveridge said, chuckling.

He shared that when he was growing up, he liked to play army in his backyard with his friends. One day a neighbor boy who was playing along handed Loveridge an old trumpet and told him to make bugle calls with it.

From the moment his lips first buzzed against the trumpet’s mouthpiece and a note burst out, Loveridge was hooked. He ended up taking the “old, beat-up trumpet” down to his elementary school and joined the band.

The band director later called Loveridge’s mom – who was unaware her son had joined the band – to tell her that the instrument he was using wasn’t very good. A year later, his parents bought him a new trumpet to use instead.

“The rest is history,” Loveridge said.

Today, Loveridge uses his many years of playing and teaching band to lead one of the longest continually performing bands in the country and carry on a true Helena legacy.

According to Loveridge, the band is comprised of about 60-70 players at any given time, with an average of 45-50 players participating in each summer concert. Players come from all walks of life – doctors, lawyers, contractors, teachers, etc.

“All these people who play, they’re not former band directors … some of them are … but they’re just people who like to play their instruments,” said Loveridge. “Fortunately, we have the talent that we can do this type of thing.”

Glen Thomas, a clarinet player, has been with the State Capital Band for 52 years and serves as its treasurer.

“I like music and I like entertaining,” Thomas said.

For Thomas, who started playing in bands in the fourth grade and continued through college and later with the Great Falls Municipal Band for 10 years, it only seemed fitting to join the State Capital Band.

Since joining, Thomas admitted he has been involved in “a little bit of everything,” from fundraising and inventory to membership and treasury work.

“I’ve been a consistent cog in the organization for all these years,” Thomas said. “I just try to help out wherever I can to make it go.”

Norm Brunken, a fellow clarinet man and former State Capital Band leader for 16 years, is another long-term member, having been part of the band for 50 years.

“It gives people like myself an opportunity to play,” Brunken said. “It’s a fun thing to do.”

Brunken shared that growing up near Edmonton, Canada, he often accompanied his parents to concerts performed by rural bands. He later asked his dad if could get an instrument, and once he started playing in the school band, he “took to it like a duck to water.”

The band’s first two summer concerts will be especially unique for Brunken as his daughter, Laura Anderson, and two grandsons, Tyler and Dylan Anderson, will travel to Helena from Virginia to play alongside him. Laura plays the French horn, Tyler plays the clarinet, and Dylan plays percussion.

“It will be fun,” Brunken said. “There will be four of us playing together and three generations.”

Brunken’s oldest grandson, Tyler, recently graduated from high school and plans on attending the University of Michigan to study clarinet performance. According to Brunken, Tyler has spent the last six years studying with Master Sgt. Patrick Morgan, the principal clarinetist for the United States Marine Band.

When it comes to the musical selections played at each concert, Loveridge said he tries to incorporate a good variety.

“I try to pick music that hits all generations,” said Loveridge. “I pick a lot of stuff from the '50s, '60s and '70s.”

From traditional marches and Broadway musicals to movie scores and Disney themes, there is a little something for everyone to enjoy.

On July 3, the State Capital Band will hold its weekly concert a day early due to the Fourth of July holiday. That particular concert will incorporate patriotic selections like “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa and “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin.

The final concert of the summer is known as the “favorites concert” because the band performs a compilation of the audience’s favorite songs from all their previous concerts throughout the summer.

Thomas said the programs handed out at each concert feature a ballot at the bottom asking for people to indicate their favorite two songs that night. They then place those ballots in boxes where they are later tallied up to determine the top two songs.

“The audience takes an active part in that,” said Thomas of the voting. “They take it seriously and the majority out there do vote.”

Rounding the corner on 122 years of making music, the State Capital Band owes its many decades of success to not only the volunteer efforts of the musicians but the community of fans who gather each summer in the park to hear them play.

“I like the satisfaction of people enjoying what we do and appreciating what we do,” said Thomas. “We have a lot of longtime fans who have commented that they really enjoy coming to our concerts and show support by donating to us.”

“We have gotten very good support from the community,” Brunken said. “We run on donations.”

With summer finally starting to hit her stride, it’s time to gather your picnic baskets, coolers and lawn chairs and experience a night where Montana’s history intertwines with music during one of the State Capital Band’s summer concerts.

“It’s an honor and a privilege,” said Loveridge of being part of directing the band. “I try to do my very best to make sure that that tradition continues. This is one of the great things about Helena.”

“I hope to have a fun evening of listening to music outside,” continued Loveridge. “That’s the biggest thing is having fun and relaxing and listening to their friends play instruments.”

“Come check us out; I think you’ll be surprised,” said Brunken. “For little ol’ Helena, Montana, out in the middle of nowhere, we’ve got a band that plays very well.”

“Keeping this band going for 122 years is an effort and a lot of work goes on by a lot of people,” said Thomas. “We’re lucky to have enthusiasm and support from the City of Helena, the citizens of Helena, and the musicians to keep this going.”