When she was eight years old, Dianne Hutchison wanted to play the flute for one simple reason.
“The junior high band in town came to visit our elementary school and played a concert for us, including Peter and the Wolf, and they demonstrated all the instruments. Now, this is the flute and it’s the bird, and there’s the oboe. He’s a duck. And I went home and said, ‘mom, I have to play the flute.’ She said, ‘why?’ ‘Well, because it sounds like a bird. And I love birds,’” said Dianne.
She continued playing in high school and in college.
“But I was the only non-music major to be in the band (for) four years. The music majors were there because they had to be. I was there because I wanted to be,” said Dianne.
Dianne took a break from music after graduating college, but in 1976, found her way to the Naperville Municipal Band, where she played the oboe.
“And then after a while we had three oboes in Naperville. And I said, well, this is a fifth wheel,” said Dianne. “So I asked if I could go back to flute.”
Dianne has now played five decades with the band. Turns out, that’s not uncommon with this group.
“I’m the 23rd person to achieve this 50th honor, that really says a lot. People get into the band and they don’t want to leave,” said Dianne.
Dianne Hutchison’s 50th Anniversary concert
To celebrate the milestone, Dianne curated the musical selections for her 50th anniversary concert, performed on August 6th.
“There is music that can make me cry. There is music that can make me laugh,” said Dianne. “What I have chosen for the band to play on Thursday night, a lot of it is emotional in one way or another.”
One selection was the “William Tell Overture” with Dianne playing her first solo.
“I’m not a solo player, but I said I’d work this one up,” said Dianne. “The flutes all said, ‘Dianne, you have to. It’s your concert.’ And I said, ‘okay.’”
Family from near and far came to watch and perform.
“Every one of my children and grandchildren play an instrument. So for one of the numbers, they’re all going to get up there on stage and play with us,” said Dianne.
The piece? An arrangement from “The Phantom of the Opera.”
And her son Mark joined during another performance: “The Typewriter.”
Dianne also received a proclamation from Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli.
“I am grateful to the city that has allowed a band like this to exist so I can be part of it. I’m grateful to everybody who plays in it, because if we didn’t have players, you know. I’m grateful to Bill and Emily for conducting us and helping us grow.” said Dianne. “I am especially grateful for the audience because if nobody came to hear us, there would be no reason to play and that would be very sad.”
And for the once little girl who just wanted to sound like a bird, she continues to give an entire community a reason to listen.
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