News: Catch us at the Kenosha St. Patrick’s Day Parade. March 14th at 11am.
Kenosha Pops Concert Band
- Over 100 Years of Great Music by a Great Lake -
We perform free live music for the citizens of the Kenosha area. We strive to entertain our audiences, and enhance the quality of life in our community.
About Us
Kenosha's official band started in 1922 as the American Legion Band, sponsored by Paul Herrick Post No. 21.
The first musical director was Helmuth Schaefer, followed by Peter Niccolai Sr. In 1924, George E. Manupella became the band's director, continuing until 1961. During Manupella's time with the band, the name was changed to the Kenosha Concert Band. Frank Niccolai became the band's director in 1961, followed in 1967 by retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Azzolina. Also in 1967, the name was changed again to the Kenosha Pops Concert Band to reflect the “pops-style” music at its concerts and becoming popular across the nation. John Bunic was the next director, from 1970 through the 1993 season. He was, in turn, followed by assistant conductor Frank Germinaro, who officially took over as conductor in 1995, directing the band through 2002.
The band has about 60 members, who come from all walks of life, including area school band directors, college students, professional musicians and “recreational” players. Over the decades, the city's official band has performed on the steps of the Kenosha Public Museum's original building in Civic Center Park, in Washington Bowl and on a portable band shell located in Navy Park.
The Sesquicentennial band Shell was dedicated on July 4, 1988, in Pennoyer Park on Kenosha's lakefront. It has been the band's summer home ever since. The band also takes part in the Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade and, since 2002, has performed a Christmas concert each December at Carthage College in A.F. Siebert Chapel.
The group's free concerts offer a wide variety of music – Broadway hits, traditional marches, Latin pieces, patriotic numbers, light classical works, TV and movie music, Dixieland tunes and, of course, polkas – along with guest performers.
Master of Ceremonies Greg Berg is also a featured vocalist through the summer season. The band is supported by the City of Kenosha, along with the band's patrons, local businesses and audience members.
Craig Gall, who had been Germinaro's assistant conductor, was named the band's conductor in the fall of 2002 – a role he continues. Germinaro, who retired from the Pops Band for 15 years, returned to the podium, as Gall's assistant conductor in 2018. Garrett Kornman, who worked with Gall as assistant conductor for 15 years, moved out of the area and left the podium. Germinaro retired again before the band's landmark 100th season in 2022, when Kathy Ripley was named assistant conductor.
Bios
CRAIG GALL MUSICAL DIRECTOR
Craig Gall joined the Kenosha Pops Concert Band in 1992 and was appointed Assistant Conductor in 1996. In 2022, he became the eighth Musical Director of the band. A native of Port Washington, he graduated magna cum laude from the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton in 1990. He spent six years as the band director at Washington Junior High School in Kenosha, as well as the Continental and Rambler Summer Recreation Bands. He also directed orchestras for several KUSD musical productions. He currently resides in Appleton and retired this year as the Director of Bands at Kimberly High School. At Kimberly, he directed the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Wespenmusikanten – the school’s ethnic music ensemble. Craig performs regularly with Dorf Kapelle and is a member of the Big Band Reunion of Appleton. For 19 years he played trombone with the Green Bay Packers Band. Craig has been inducted into and is a board member of the Wisconsin Bandmasters Association.
KATHRYN RIPLEY ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR
Kathryn Ripley is the Assistant Conductor of the Kenosha Pops Concert Band. She is the band director at Tremper High School. She has been in the Kenosha Unified School District for 24 years having previously taught at Lance Middle School. She previously served as the director of the Band of the Black Watch and Continental bands. Before moving to the area, she taught in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona and New York. Originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Music in Education from the University of Iowa and a Master of Music in Flute Performance from Northern Arizona University. Kathryn is a member of the Racine Symphony, the Kenosha Symphony and the Wisconsin Wind Orchestra. She and her husband, Jim, live in Kenosha and have two grown children, Erik and Jacy.
GREG BERG MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Greg Berg is the fine arts director for local Public Radio station WGTD-FM 91.1. Greg hosts an interview program, The Morning Show, weekday mornings, 8-9 a.m. He serves as minister of music at Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Racine and is assistant professor of music at Carthage College where he teaches voice. Greg has directed musicals at the Racine Theatre Guild since 2003. And, as in previous years, Greg will be a featured vocalist with the Kenosha Pops throughout the summer season.
Latest News
100th Anniversary of the Kenosha County Courthouse
The Pops were honored to perform to honor the centennial of the Kenosha County Courthouse!
Christmas with the Pops!
The Annual Christmas Concert was held on December 13th, 2025. We thank Carthage College for hosting us in the beautiful Seibert Chapel.
2026 Summer Season Schedule Coming Soon!
Our upcoming concert season will begin in June 2026. We will post our concert schedule and themes as soon as it is available. Check our calendar page for updates.
