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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.
music director
Dr. James Nissen is returning for his eighth
season as the Ann Arbor Concert Band 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 his master's
degrees in organ, studying with Dr. Marilyn Mason. In 1984-5 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 and Sullivan Society, the Ann Arbor Civic Theatre,
the new American Music Theatre, and the Michigan choral Society. Dr.
Nissen is on the Humanities faculty at Schoolcraft College and also
teaches in the Music Department at the University of Michigan, Dearborn.
Dr. Nissen has composed several concert works for band, choirs, and organ.
He is also 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:
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Communication
keeps attendance; plans social events; publishes newsletter
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Dissemination
prints concert programs and fliers; solicits program advertising
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Finance
collects dues; maintains library; keeps band history
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Musical Performance
- schedules rehearsals/concerts; arranges concert receptions and ushers
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Quality Control
surveys band members and audience; solicits area schools for Young Artist
Competition
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Public Relations
distributes press releases; arranges interviews
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Executive
runs elections; maintains board minutes; writes grants
The Board meets regularly throughout the year assuring the smooth
operation of the Band.
Link of the AACB Bylaws |
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