Week 3 - June 25 Concert

The Chemical City Band will present its 3rd concert of the 2025 season on Wednesday, June 25 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  

This week we do not have access to the Central Auditorium, so inclement weather will force us to cancel the concert.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute details.  If cancelled, all musicians must still drop off their music folders at the Collins parking lot adjacent to the band shell around 7 PM to reset for the patriotic concert on July 2.

Steve DeRees is our conductor this week.  He will direct the following pieces for your enjoyment:

Revelation March.......................................................................................W. Paris Chambers

Michel Legrand in Concert.....................................Michel Legrand, Marilyn and Alan Bergman

Blue Tango......................................................................................................Leroy Anderson

Strike Up the Band Overture......................................................................George Gershwin

St. Florian Choral............................................................................................Thomas Doss 

Selections from Moana...................................................................................arr. Jay Bocook

Intermission

Hall of Fame Concert March......................................................................Joseph Olivadoti

Triumphant Spirit............................................................................................Timothy Johnson

Trilogy.................................................................................................................Jim Curnow

The Picadore March......................................................................................John Philip Sousa

America, the Beautiful............................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner...............................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord

Week 2 - June 18 Concert

UPDATE:  Tonight's concert is moved to Central Auditorium!!

The Chemical City Band will present its 2nd concert of the 2025 season on Wednesday, June 18 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  In case of rain, which seems likely, the concert will be moved to Central Auditorium.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute details.

Steve DeRees returns as our conductor this week and will present the following musical selections:

Sol Y Sombra.....................................................................................George Gates

Edgemont Festival Overture.............................................................Carl Strommen

The Walking Frog......................................................................................K.L. King

Prelude and Rondo.....................................................................David R. Holsinger

Brazilian Festival........................................................................arr. Howard Cable

Joshua..............................................................................................arr. Paul Yoder

Intermission

His Honor.............................................................................................Henry Fillmore

Fantasy on American Sailing Songs..................................................Clare Grundman

A Russian Festival....................................................................................Jay Dawson

The Freelance March.......................................................................John Philip Sousa

America, the Beautiful...............................................Samual F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner.................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord

Week 1 - June 11 Concert

 The Chemical City Band will present its first concert of the 2025 season on Wednesday, June 11 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Central Auditorium.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute details.

Joel Wiseman serves as our Guest Conductor this week and will present the following musical selections:

 

The Pride fo the Wolverines............................................................................John Philip Sousa

Scenario for Winds.................................................................................................John Cacavas

Blue Moon..............................................................................Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

Funiculi Funicula......................................................................................................Luigi Denza

Robin Hood Soundtrack Highlights.....................................................................Michael Kamen

Intermission

Romanza Semplice....................................................................................................Fred J. Allen

Star Quest....................................................................................................................Dave Black

Norwegian March "Valdres".............................................................................Johannes Hanssen

Men of Ohio...........................................................................................................Henry Fillmore

 America, the Beautiful.............................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner.................................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F.  Gaylord

 

2025 Season Opening Remarks

The first performance of the Chemical City Band (CCB) will occur in 2 weeks at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park.  All concerts start at 7:30 PM on Wednesday nights as follows:

2025 CCB Concert Dates

June 11

June 18

June 25

July 2

July 9

July 16

July 23

All concerts are free and open to the public.  Please park in the lot adjacent to Collins Street.  Additional parking is available over the hill at the Midland Miracle Field.  The concrete walkway facillitates access to the benches for the audience and mobility limited individuals.  Lawn chairs are also welcome throughout the park.  In case of rain, the concert normally moves to Central Auditorium.

For the CCB performers, Monday rehearsals start at 7:00 PM sharp in the H. H. Dow High School band room and conclude at 9:30 PM (break included).  The band operates with a 6 member Board of Directors (unpaid positions), who are also performing musicians.  Three new members are marked (*) below:

Richard S. Harner, chairman

Susan M. Gessford, vice-chairman

*Andrew Reed, secretary

*James Lile, treasurer

*Elizabeth Thomas, publicity director

Stephen E. DeRees, music director

Three board directors also serve in paid CCB staff positions.  Sue Gessford is the personnel manager and Beth Thomas is the librarian.  Steve DeRees serves as the band conductor.

The CCB participates in the Give Local Midland one-day fund raiser, sponsored by the Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF).  The band will receive $2,994.63 total for 2025: $2,325.00 from direct contributions, $369.63 in matching funds, and $300 from a special prize.  In addition to contributions from the general public, the band is supported by the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and the Alden & Vada Dow Family Foundation.

The Chemical City Band is a non-profit 501(c)(3) musical organization registered in the State of Michigan.  Cash/check donations can be made at any concert or sent directly to the Chemical City Band, P.O. Box #2454, Midland, MI 48641.

All are invited to share in the celebration of our 116th season of musical performance.  We strive to enhance the quality of life in Midland with a community-wide tradition since 1910.

2024 Season Closing Remarks

The Chemical City Band closed its 115th season with a concert on Wednesday, July 24 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park.  The evening was perfect, sunny and warm, with a large appreciative audience.  Indeed, the weather was cooperative this year - only one concert was moved to Central Auditorium due to rain.

Due to a generous grant from the Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF), a permanent sound system was installed at the band shell and used successfully at each concert.  Feedback from selected attendees was very positive.  Announcements and soloists could now be heard clearly by the audience, regardless of seating location at the venue.  The press release is reproduced below:

The CCB shared a patriotic concert with the Strong Winds MPT of the 338th Army Band on July 3.  The 9 member combo converged on Midland from several states as part of their summer performance schedule.  The new wireless microphones were used effectively for the vocal soloists.

The drum shells were available for contributions throughout the season.  We received over $600 in cash in one evening, a new record for CCB! During the 2024 season, 90 musicians performed at least 1 concert, and 9 rehearsed and played all 7.  Instrumentation gaps were filled by talented high school and college students, accounting for 24 of the total.  The youngest players were 15 years old.  The average participation each week was 46.

The CCB has a 6 member Board of Directors who are also performing members of the band:

Richard S. Harner, president

Susan M. Gessford, vice-president

Gaye Terwillegar, secretary

Richard L. Scott, treasurer

Mara Stewart, publicity director

Stephen E. DeRees, music director

The CCB operates with 3 paid staff positions.  Sue Gessford serves as personnel manager, Beth Thomas as librarian, and Steve DeRees as the band conductor.  Additionally, Tom Broka was our guest conductor on July 17 and Andrew Reed was the featured alto saxophone soloist on July 24.

In addition to contributions from the general public, the Board would like to acknowledge operating financial support from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and the Alden & Vada Dow Family Foundation.  The CCB also participated in the Give Local Midland one-day fund raiser in May, sponsored by the MACF.  Without this local support, the CCB would not be viable.

Contributions to the CCB endowment fund, administered by the MACF, can be made at any time indicating the Chemical City Band long term investment fund, #545.  Any income in excess of expenses is deposited in our MACF fund with the goal of self-sufficiency in the future.

2024 Roster (alphabetical by first name)

Week 7 - July 24 Concert

 The Chemical City Band will present its seventh and final concert of the 2024 season on Wednesday, July 24 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Central Auditorium.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

For all musicians playing this concert, checks will be distributed during the warmup.  Members not playing the final concert will receive a check by mail.  Please cash your check at your earliest convenience.

Steve DeRees returns as our conductor this week and will present the following musical selections:

Festivity.............................................................................................................................Stephen Bulla

The Best of Broadway.............................................................................................arr. James H. Burden

Upon These Grounds....................................................................................................John Tatgenhorst

Someone to Watch Over Me................................................................George Gershwin, arr. W. Barker

Andrew Reed, Alto Saxophone

March "The Southerner"....................................................................Russell Alexander, arr. G.C. Bainum

Intermission

The Klaxon March........................................................................................Henry Fillmore, ed. F. Fennell

Majestia.........................................................................................................................James Swearingen

West Side Story Selections..........................Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein, arr. W.J. Duthoit

The Black Horse Troop March..............................................................John Philip Sousa, ed. F. Fennell

America, the Beautiful...........................................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr. A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner..............................................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord

Stephen Sondheim

Week 6 - July 17 Concert

The Chemical City Band will present its sixth concert on July 17 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  Weather predictions look good, but in case of rain, the performance will move to Central Auditorium.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

Our guest conductor this week will be Tom Broka.  The following musical selections will be presented:

The Winged Stallion...................................................................................Rossano Galante

The Best of "Journey"..................................................................................arr. Paul Murtha

Hallelujah, from the Motion Picture "Shrek".............................Leonard Cohen, arr. M. Brown

Lake County Landscapes.............................................................................Robert Sheldon

I. Forest Gateway

II. Sidewalk Stroll

III. Urban Vibe

IV. Seaplane City

Silvercrest Concert March..........................................................................James Swearingen

Intermission

Torch of Liberty March.................................................................Karl L. King, arr. J. Swearingen

American Images................................................................................................arr. John Moss

Night and Day.....................................................................................Cole Porter, arr. J. Krance

Pixar Movie Magic..........................................................................................arr. Michael Brown

Semper Fidelis March.........................................................John Philip Sousa, arr. Brion/Schissel

America, the Beautiful...............................................................Samuel F. Ward, arr, A.F. Gaylord

The Star-Spangled Banner..................................................John Stafford Smith, arr. A.F. Gaylord

Robert Sheldon