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The MONTGOMERY COUNTY CONCERT BAND was founded in April, 1995 by Stephen Frederick and Paul Ferla. Since its beginning the band has presented over 300 concerts throughout Montgomery County's parks, schools and retirement communities.
Band members come from a variety of professions and backgrounds from educators and homemakers, to the business world and health care. Several are retirees or students. Each of them began their musical journey participating in school music programs. Many members continued to play in groups beyond the school setting through the years, and many have joined MCCB to rekindle their love of playing band music. Musicians and directors are volunteers who donate their time to prepare the various programs for the community.
The band's repertoire ranges from standard and contemporary literature for band to the Broadway stage, classical transcriptions, marches, and patriotic medleys. Featured soloists have included Philadelphia Orchestra principal tuba Carol Jantsch, trombonist Scott Shelsta and outstanding local musicians Jan-Willem Jochems, Anthony Triplett, Peter Neu, Eric Frank, Anthony Wastler, Dave O'Neill, Jeff Miller, Michael Langston, Andrew Neu, Cindy Reese, Joyce Haraway and from the US Navy Band, Souderton native, Marty Nau.
In April 2009, the MCCB had the honor of presenting a formal concert at PMEA, the State Music Educators Conference. In March of 2014, the band was selected to play at the Association of Concert Bands Convention in Allentown and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference in Hershey. In Hershey, the band premiered the exciting and moving piece, Blue Elegy, composed by Travis Weller, in memory of Steve Frederick, founding director.
Of special note is the MCCB Outreach Program. Scholarships are awarded in memory of former band members to local talented high school students seeking to further their college music education. "Side by side" concerts have enabled Montgomery County students to play alongside band members. The MCCB has also presented special benefit concerts for Lansdale Community Housing and Manna on Main Street.
Since 1999 the MCCB and the Borough of Lansdale have collaborated as an official "TUBACHRISTMAS" site, bringing together over 70 tuba, sousaphone, euphonium and baritone players from the tri-state area. TUBACHRISTMAS is normally held on the first Sunday in December. Check the website for details as December approaches.
The MCCB is totally self-supporting as a 501c(3) non-profit organization and depends entirely on donations from the public. Formal concerts 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.