If you are interested in playing in a community band...

Then this post is for you. Here is a list of some of the groups in the Milwaukee area listed by the evenings that they rehearse.

Sunday: The Milwaukee Metropolitan Community Concert Band is under the direction of Karen Lippert. They welcome all players regardless of ability and play traditional concert band music. Unfortunately, they do not have a web site at this time. If you are interested in more information, post a response or send an email and I will forward your information to the director.

Monday: The Menomonee Falls Symphony, under the direction of Mike Kamenski, rehearses on Monday evenings in Sussex at Hamilton High School. An audition is required. More information can be found at their web site.

Tuesday: The Wauwatosa Community Band, under the direction of Donna Kummer, rehearses at Longfellow Middle School. Tosa Band performs as a symphonic band and also as Tosa Jazz, so those folks that like both genre's of music may find a good fit with this group. See their web site for more information.

Tuesday: For the folks in the western suburbs, the Waukesha Area Symphonic Band also rehearses on Tuesday. The group is directed by Rick Kirby, who has also composed music for some of the concerts. Their web site also has more information.

Tuesday: The Milwaukee Festival Brass, the only British style Brass Band in the area, rehearses on Tuesday as well. This group is unique in that they have an apprentice program for high school students as well as a youth British Brass Band. All the details are on their site.

Wednesday: The Milwaukee American Legion Band is a traditional, patriotic-style community band. They are directed by Mike Van Pelt. Their site has information on their history, which is extensive, and on joining.

Wednesday: The Lakeshore Symphonic Band serves the north shore and Ozaukee County communities, performing their concerts at the Cedarburg Performing Arts Center. Click here for their information.

Wednesday: The Knightwind Ensemble is the most decorated community band in the area, having been awarded the Sudler Silver Scroll from the John Phillip Sousa Foundation. The group performs very difficult music, and performs it well. As a result, auditions are required. Their web site has all the audition and history information. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a volunteer for the group.

Thursday: The Milwaukee Concert Band is another group with a long history, having been sponsored at one time by the Civic Music Association. Unfortunately, they do not have a web site. There is contact information for this group at the Wisconsin Music Group web site.

Thursday: The Suburban Concert Band is based in West Allis and is sponsored by the West Allis Rec department. Their web site has all the information.

Thursday: The Greendale Village Band welcomes members of all playing abilities. Unfortunately, they do not have a web site. However, the Wisconsin Music Group site does have contact information.

And if I missed information on your group, send me an email and I'll be sure to post it.

The end of the Summer Season

The Racine Concert Band completes its summer season for 2011 with the 1433rd free concert. The Band welcomes soprano Ami Bouterse and trumpeter Eric Weiss.

Ms. Bouterse is an accomplished performer, having sung all over the country with Theater and Opera companies. She is an Assistant Professor of Music, teaching voice and directing the Opera Workshop. Unfortunately, I do not have the selections she will perform.

Trumpeter Eric Weiss will perform The Man With The Horn. No doubt it will be a lot of fun!

And keep in mind that there will be a special prize drawing tonight after every piece performed. And your entries are from your guesses in the Racine Concert Band Quiz turned in at the other concerts. It will be a fun evening for all, and a fitting end to the summer.

Concert Preview August 21

The Summer Series for the Racine Concert band is winding down. On Sunday August 21, the Band welcomes Soprano Amie Miller. She will perform a number of selections, unfortunately they are not known at this time. However, she performed with the band last year and was a big hit.

Also on the program is a Clarinet Duet entitled Pepperino. It will feature Diane Kosmala and Graciela Baldwin.

The concert begins at 7PM. Be sure to attend and get more entries into the big prize drawing at the August 28th concert.

The Racine Summer Series Continues

Join the Racine Concert Band on Sunday August 14 when baritone Gregory Berg will join the band. Mr. Berg is an Assistant Professor of Music at Carthage College and a frequent performer in Southeast Wisconsin. He will perform serious works by Handel and Tchaikovsky, and later sing some tunes by the likes of Harold Arlen and the Gershwin Brothers.

Also on the program is the Albinoni Concerto for Two Oboes, featuring Katherine Radek and Alyssa Piela of the Band.

And it's always fun to hear the music of The Peanut Vendor!

The concert begins at 7:00. See you there.

Racine Concert Band August 7

The Racine Summer Concert Series continues on Sunday August 7 at 7 PM, 30 minutes earlier than the concerts in July. This week, the Maestro Mark Eichner will perform a trumpet solo entitled Trumpet in the Night.

Later in the program, soprano Kathryn Thorson (of the flute section) will perform some wonderful tunes including I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.

And don't forget to enter the Racine Concert Band Quiz, not only to win some nice prizes at the concert, but to be included in the big drawing at the last concert of the season. Any entries in the quiz at any concert this summer is included in the big prize give-away at the last concert of the season. It's the Racine Concert Band's way of saying Thank You for enjoying our music!

Concert Preview: July 31 in Racine

The series by the Racine Concert Band continues on Sunday July 31 at the Racine Zoo when the Band welcomes Soprano and former Miss Racine, Ms. Jeannie Hatfield. She will perform music from Rogers and Hart, Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, and Irving Berlin. Jeannie always puts on a good show, and this should be no exception.

Also featured on the program is Alto Saxophonist Margaret Schwingle performing a Tango by Issac Albinez. And, of course, Music Director Mark Eichner will end the concert with a Sousa march. Lots of fun for the whole family.

Keep in mind that this is the last concert beginning at 7:30. In August, the concerts will begin at 7 PM due to the setting of the sun.

The last summer concert in Shorewood for 2011

This week will mark the closing of the 2011 summer season for the Shorewood Concert Band. Dr. Patricia Backhaus will present a program entitled Band Shell Classics. Dr. Pat always programs a fun concert, and this one will be no exception. I'll be there, and I hope you will be too!

And the summer season continues at the Racine Zoo on Sunday evening the 24th when the Racine Concert band welcomes mezzo-soprano Allison Hull. Ms. Hull is a faculty member at UW-Parkside who has performed with the Skylight and Florentine Opera companies in Milwaukee, and the Seattle Opera nationally. She is a frequent guest with the Racine Concert band.

Also on the program is music featuring the saxophone section.

It looks to be a wonderful concert. Hope to see you there!