Established 1926

Our History

The Waterloo Municipal Band has a rich heritage of service to the City of Waterloo and surrounding communities of the Cedar Valley since 1926. The band performs traditional outdoor concerts each year during June and July.

The Band was first conceived by Waterloo musicians serving on ship in the Navy during WWI. This group eventually became the Waterloo American Legion Band under the sponsorship of the Waterloo American Legion and the Music Performance Trust Fund out of New York. At that time, the band was renamed the Waterloo Municipal Band. The affairs of the band were handled primarily by a Band Manager and the Conductor.

In the spring of 1994, the Band was reorganized and incorporated as a non-profit organization under the name of the Waterloo Community Concert Band. The business of the Band is now handled by a Board of Directors.

The Band has entertained many guest conductors and soloists over the years and performs a wide range of musical styles. The musical quality of the organization was recognized by musicians throughout the state of Iowa when it was selected to be the Honor Band at the 1994 convention of the Iowa Bandmasters.

The Band recently returned to the moniker of The Waterloo Municipal Band. Some of the people who have served as conductor for the band are names well known in Iowa band and music circles: Clayton Chennette, Cressy Whalen, Charles Ball, George Kristufek, Jim Coffin, Bob Shafer, Jim Selland, Joe Giunta, Bill Shepherd and current conductors Danny Galyen and Scott Muntefering.

Conductors

Danny Galyen

Danny Galyen is Director of Bands and

Associate Professor of Music at UNI.

He conducts the Wind Ensemble, provides administrative and artistic direction for the eight ensembles in the band area, and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting,

wind literature, and music education.

Prior to his appointment as Director of Bands he served as the director of the Panther Marching Band and

conductor of the Symphonic Band.

Justin Mertz

Justin J. Mertz is Associate Director of Bands at UNI. He directs the Panther Marching Band, conducts the Symphonic Band, and teaches courses in music education.

Dr. Mertz has contributed to the educational series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band, produced and conducted on a number of SU Wind Ensemble recordings for Mark Records, His professional memberships include the College Band Directors National Association and the Iowa Bandmasters Association. Dr. Mertz is an active guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States,

where he works with students at all levels.

Waterloo Municipal Band Board of Directors

Danny Galyen

Julie Anderson

Conductor/Musical Director

Julie Anderson

President

Bard Mackey

Julie Anderson

Gretchen Tripolino

Treasurer

Gretchen Tripolino

Secretary

Denise Lawrence

Gretchen Tripolino

Denise Lawrence

Social Media Manager

Diana Blake

Gretchen Tripolino

Denise Lawrence

Board Member

Kristine Grimm

Board Member

Laura O'Brien

Kristine Grimm

Board Member