The story behind the Naperville Municipal Band playing the 1812 Overture is now almost legendary. Past Naperville Mayor Chet Rybicki asked Director Ron Keller why the band doesn’t play the 1812 Overture.
“Well,” Keller told Rybicki, “We’d need cannons.”
The next day he received a call back from Rybicki. “Where would you like them?”
A tradition was born, and each year, the Naperville Municipal Band celebrates America’s birthday with a medley of patriotic songs, culminating with a rousing performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture… with cannons!
