The Ann Arbor Concert Band was established in 1978 with a four-fold purpose:
• providing public concerts with broad audience appeal
• foster interest in amateur music performance
• provide a place for the member musicians to perform music for their own satisfaction and to attract members
• provide continuing education to the member musicians and to the public
History
The Ann Arbor Concert Band, founded in 1978 as the Ann Arbor Symphony Band by
Victor Bordo and David Juillet, has served as an ensemble for musicians desiring to
perform wind band literature. The band has its roots in the Ann Arbor School System's
music program and continues a close relationship with it today.
The band is a non-profit organization with all members being volunteers from the
community. While it maintains an amateur status, the standards of performance and
organization are strictly professional.
Although rooted in the local area, the band travels throughout the lower half of
Michigan and performs in the most prestigious of concert venues. Concerts are
presented four to five times during the concert season, from September to May.
Conductors of the Ann Arbor Concert Band have included Lloyd Whitehead, David
Woike, Donald Schleicher, Jeffrey Campbell, Max Plank, H. Robert Reynolds, William D.
Revelli and Victor Bordo.
The ensemble has premiered several new works for concert band including the award
winning composition "Heroes Lost and Fallen" by Dr. David Gillingham, Professor of
Composition at Central Michigan University.
The Ann Arbor Concert Band demonstrates an interest in fostering young wind and
percussion musicians by administering the Andrew J. Lum Young Artist Scholarship
Competition.
American Music Theatre, and the Michigan Choral Society. Dr. Nissen is in his 14th year as conductor of the Schoolcraft College Wind Ensemble, and is on the Humanities faculty at Schoolcraft College. Dr. Nissen also teaches in the Music Department at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Dr. Nissen has composed several concert works for band, choir, and organ. He is also the Associate Director of Music at the First Congregational Church in Ann Arbor.
Board of Directors
The Ann Arbor Concert Band is governed by the Board of Directors. The Board is made
up of nine performing members of the Band. Board members are elected by the Band.
The responsibilities of the Board are divided into seven divisions or committees each
headed by one of the Board members. The committees and a brief summary of their
duties are:
Communication
keeps attendance; plans social events; publishes newsletter
Dissemination
prints concert programs and fliers; solicits program advertising
Finance
collects dues; maintains library; keeps band history
Musical Performance
schedules rehearsals/concerts; arranges concert receptions and ushers
Quality Control
surveys band members and audience; solicits area schools for Young Artist Competition
Public Relations
distributes press releases; arranges interviews
Executive
runs elections; maintains board minutes; writes grants
The Board meets regularly throughout the year assuring the smooth operation of the
Band.
If you are interested in learning more about the Board please email us at:
We are extremely happy to welcome Dr. James Nissen as our new conductor. A native of Ann Arbor, Jim began his music studies on the trumpet at age 7. He attended the University of Michigan, where he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in organ, studying with Dr. Marilyn Mason. In 1984-85 he studied organ, composition, and improvisation with Jean Langlais in Paris on a Fulbright Scholarship. In 1986 he studied organ and composition at the Music Conservatory in Madrid, Spain. Jim then returned to the U-M where he completed his Doctorate in organ. Dr. Nissen has served as Music Director/Conductor for the Michigan Youth Band, the U-M Gilbert & Sullivan Society, the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre, the new