About Us
The Greensboro Concert Band is a group of 75 enthusiastic, nonprofessional musicians who rehearse weekly and perform extensively throughout the year. Band membership consists of people from almost every imaginable background, ranging in age from teens to senior citizens, all coming together through a common love of music. There are no auditions, other than for placement, and the only requirement for membership is a willingness to polish current skills and relearn old ones.
In 1977, approximately 50 musicians were recruited from the community to share their musical talents with the public. The first rehearsals began in January 1978, and after a formal concert that spring, the band played in a series of informal outdoor concerts that eventually became Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park (MUSEP). This concert series is now a permanent and popular part of the Music Center's summer programming, with the concert band still performing two of the 16 concerts and drawing thousands of local residents.
In 1979, a seasonal indoor concert series was offered, with the concert band and Philharmonia of Greensboro (the Music Center's orchestra) joining forces and inviting guest artists. The OPUS Concert Series was thus born and now includes the Choral Society of Greensboro, a 150-voice chorus, and the Greensboro Youth Chorus, a 100-voice treble choir, as well as the band and orchestra. All of the performing groups sponsored by the Music Center are made up of volunteer community musicians that strive for and achieve the sound of many professional ensembles.
Typical concert repertoire for the Greensboro Concert Band includes pop and musical favorites for the outdoor concerts and more serious pieces for the OPUS Series Concerts.
The Greensboro Concert Band also features guest conductors and guest artists, giving the members the opportunity to work and play with nationally known professionals in the field as well as locally renowned talent. These guests have included the Dukes of Dixieland, the Chicago Chamber Brass, jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini, trumpeter David Hickman, saxophonist Dale Underwood and conductor Col. Arnald Gabriel. Past conductors have included Charles Deemer, Frank Hammond, Ray Church, Steve Bingham, Charles Murph and Jonathan Green. Mark Norman serves as the current conductor.
The band also performs regularly at civic, community and festival events, many free of charge to the public. The groups has been honored by performing at a North Carolina Music Educators Convention, the World's Fair in Knoxville, Disney World in Florida, a North Carolina Bandmasters Association Convention and the American School Band Directors Association National Convention.
Past Directors
Charles Deemer, Jan. 1978 to Dec. 1980
Frank Hammond, Jan. 1981 to Aug. 1983
Dr. Ray Edward Church, Sept. 1983 to July 1984
Steve Bingham, Aug. 1984 to July 1986
Charles R. Murph, Aug. 1986 to June 1999
Dr. Jonathan D. Green, June 1999 to Aug. 2002
Mark A. Norman, Sept. 2002 to present