arts & entertainment
The newly formed Vero Beach Community Concert Band is looking for you! Instrumental musicians throughout Indian River County and the greater Treasure Coast are invited to join the new volunteer ensemble dedicated to lifelong music making and artistic growth.
Under the direction of Dr. John K. Southall, Music Director & Conductor, the band is seeking woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians among high school and college students, music educators, retired band directors, military musicians and veterans, professional performers, community musicians, and adults returning to their instruments.
The new ensemble was established to provide meaningful performance opportunities for musicians, with a mission that includes enriching the cultural life of Vero Beach and the Treasure Coast. The Vero Beach Community Concert Band rehearses Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the band room of Vero Beach High School, with free performances at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. Dr. Southall is the Conference Chair, Past President and a Hall of Fame honoree for the Florida Music Education Association. Along with his leadership of the Vero Beach Community Concert Band, Southall is also Music Director for the Port St. Lucie Community Band.
To join the Vero Beach Community Concert Band, interested musicians should apply online at https://tinyurl.com/3bxvtj58 or email inquiries to verobeachcommunityband@gmail.com.
Dr. Southall is a music educator, conductor, clinician and passionate arts advocate. With conducting and teaching experience that spans four decades, Dr. Southall knows the benefits that membership in a musical organization can bring for performers. Musicians from different generations will have opportunities to rehearse and perform together, learn from one another, and build lasting friendships,” said Dr. Southall. “Whether you are an active performer or hoping to return to concert band music, this is an opportunity to become an inaugural member and help establish a new community musical tradition.”
Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, is delighted to welcome Dr. Southall and his new organization to the Vero Beach arts scene. “First Presbyterian of Vero Beach is happy to support this new musical venture by Dr. Southall,” said Dr. Craig. “Dr. Southall has a distinguished musical career and Vero Beach will surely benefit from what is destined to be an excellent concert band! We look forward to hosting their concerts and assisting however we can.”
The first concert by the Vero Beach Community Concert Band will be A Holiday Spectacular! on December 20th at 4:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard. For more information about membership in the band or upcoming programs, send an email to VeroBeachCommunityBand@gmail.com.
WHAT IS A CONCERT BAND? A concert band is a large musical ensemble made up of woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments, typically performing seated on a concert stage rather than marching. Unlike a traditional symphony orchestra, a concert band does not have a dedicated string section, though it may occasionally use a double bass or harp. The group may alternately be called a wind band, wind ensemble, symphonic band, wind symphony, or wind orchestra. The repertoire for a concert band consists of original wind music, transcriptions of orchestral pieces, light music, folk tunes, Broadway numbers, and traditional marches.
