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MAC to hold special show, encampment for Civil War's 150th anniversary
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Wisconsin's First Brigade Band will perform historical music, recount anecdotes, tales and legends of the Civil War era at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Monroe Arts Center. General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students 18 and under. This concert is free to MAC members. Tickets may be purchased through MAC at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; in person at the MAC box office; or online at www.monroeartscenter.com. (Photo supplied)
MONROE - April marks the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, and the Monroe Arts Center has planned a special performance to remember the historical event. A concert by Wisconsin's First Brigade Band will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St.

The performance is part of the Green County-wide program "Bugles, Bayonets and Beyond: The American Civil War 150 Years Later."

The First Brigade Band is modeled after a band formed in southern Wisconsin as part of a volunteer infantry. In 1864, 18 men from the Brodhead Brass Band enlisted in the Union Army as the band of the 1st Brigade. The enlisted members of the band marched under the command of Gen. William T. Sherman in the campaigns of northern Georgia and the Carolinas. The tradition these men established lives on today with the members of First Brigade Band today.

Under the direction of band master Jon Condon, First Brigade Band presents authentic period brass band music performed on antique instruments. Attired in uniforms and gowns, the band's musicians, color guard and costumed ladies give a nostalgic portrayal of the atmosphere of the Civil War era. The band blends the sights and sounds of the period with historical accounts, anecdotes, tales and legends.

The concert is dedicated to the memory of John Wegmueller, former Monroe resident and member of First Brigade Band, who died on Jan. 2, 2014. John's daughter, Genia Allard, will be a featured vocalist at the concert.

Additional events in the "Bugles, Bayonets and Beyond" program include a speaker and event series on a variety of topics relating to the Civil War. Speakers include Tom Howe, Ingerid Kvam, Al Stauffacher and George Buss, Freeport, who portrays Abraham Lincoln.

The series concludes with the performance at MAC titled, "Healing the Heart of Democracy: A Gathering of Spirits for the Common Good" by Parker Palmer and Carrie Newcomer. Additional information on the series can be found online at monroeartscenter.com.

General admission tickets for First Brigade Band are $10 for adults and $5 for students 18 years of age and younger. MAC members may attend at no charge. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Monroe Arts Center at 608-325-5700 or 888-596-1249; in person at the box office, 1315 11th St.; or online at monroeartscenter.com.

The event has been underwritten by corporate underwriter Colony Brands Inc., and media underwriters Monroe Publishing LLC and Big Radio. Additional underwriting for this presentation has been provided by: Ron and Jennifer Spielman; Ruda Chevrolet Toyota; David and Jean Busker; Mike and Marian Furgal; Kittelsen, Barry, Wellington, Thompson and Schluesche; Bill Ross and Marilyn Sandin-Ross; C.J. and Lara Smith; Deb Thompson; and an anonymous donor.