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History of the Concert Band

History of the Concert Band

A concert band is made up of musicians who play wind, brass and percussion instruments. Unlike a symphony orchestra, it does not include strings, and, unlike a marching band, it performs seated on stage. This one-week forum presented by Professor of Music Steve Shanley invites audiences to discover the history, energy and rich sound of the concert band. The session will begin with an overview of how modern concert bands evolved from 19th century military marching bands and symphony orchestras. We will follow their growth into school music programs and community ensembles, using notable examples and recordings from groups such as theEastman Wind Ensemble, the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band, the Northshore Concert Band, the Cedar Rapids Washington High School Wind Symphony and the Coe College Concert Band. We will then turn to the story of the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band (CRMB), which celebrates its 75th season in 2025 and is currently under the direction of Dr. Shanley. We will explore how the group was founded and how it has evolved over the decades, and enjoy recordings from its recent project to commemorate the music of the CRMB’s second conductor, Frank Piersol.

Thursday Forum is held in Kesler Auditorium on the first floor of Hickok Hall. Each weekly session begins with registration and refreshments from 8:45-9:15 AM, followed by the lecture until 11:30 AM. The presentations blend lecture, media such as film and music, and discussion.

Admission to each four-week forum series is $40. Admission to individual lectures and one- and two-week forums is $12 per week. Admission includes the lecture and morning refreshments of coffee, tea and pastries. Payment can be made in person on Thursday mornings by cash or personal check. Credit card payments can be processed by registering online in advance at www.coe.edu/thursday-forum. For more information, visit the Thursday Forum website or call 319.399.8523.

In the event of inclement weather, consult local media outlets to find out if the day’s forum will take place.