The MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONCERT BAND was founded in April, 1995 by Stephen Frederick and Paul Ferla. Since its beginning the band has presented over 225 concerts for a variety of community celebrations, seasonal/park concerts and holiday events throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Players come from a variety of daily occupations and backgrounds including education, homemakers, the business world, computer industry, clergy, systems analysts and students. Several are retirees. All began their musical journey participating in school music programs. Many current members continued to play in groups beyond the school setting through the years, and many have joined to rekindle their love of playing band music in the concert ensemble setting. Musicians and directors are all volunteers and donate their time to prepare the various programs for the community.
In April 2009, the Band was honored by being selected to present a formal concert at PMEA, the State Music Educators conference. The MCCB has presented special benefit concerts for Lansdale Community Housing and Manna on Main Street as part of a community outreach program.
Repertoire is varied and ranges from standard and contemporary literature for band to the Broadway stage, classical transcriptions, marches, and patriotic medleys. Featured soloists with the band have included Philadelphia Orchestra principal tuba Carol Jantsch, trombonist Scott Shelsta and outstanding local musicians Jan-Willem Jochems, Peter Neu, Eric Frank, Anthony Wastler, Dave O’Neill, Jeff Miller, and from the US Navy Band, Souderton native Marty Nau.
Since 1999 the MCCB and the Borough of Lansdale have collaborated as an official “Tubachristmas International” site, bringing together over 70 tuba, sousaphone, euphonium and baritone players from the tri-state area. This year’s “Tubachristmas” will be held on Sunday, December 6.
The band is totally self supported and a 501c(3) non-profit organization dependent entirely on donations from the public. Formal concerts during the year are free to the public; a free-will offering is accepted.
Rehearsals are held at Pennfield Middle School in Hatfield on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 – 9:30 pm during the school year.
