Week 2 - July 8 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its second concert of the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 8 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  In case of rain, the concert is cancelled because we have no alternate performance site.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing will be practiced by all.  Please bring your face mask to the concert to protect yourself and others.

Steve DeRees is our musical director.  The following selections will be presented with no intermission:

The New Century March..............................Thomas Preston Brooke

Symphonic Overture....................................................Charles Carter

Spania, Spanish March.................................................David Shaffer

Tunbridge Overture................................................James D. Ployhar

Tribute to Bacharach and David....................................Hal David &

Burt Bacharach, arr. J. Edmondson

All Glory Told.......................................................James Swearingen

The Gladiator..........................................................John Philip Sousa

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

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


The signage reminds all attendees of the federal, state, and local requirement of social distancing for Chemical City Band concerts in the park.

Week 1 - July 1 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its first concert of the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 1 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 pm.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the concert is cancelled in case of rain because we have no alternate performance site.  Social distancing will be practiced by all.  Please bring your face mask to the concert to protect yourself and others.

Steve DeRees is our musical director.  The following selections will be presented with no intermission:

God Bless America............................Irving Berlin, arr. F.D. Cofield

Let Freedom Ring.................................................arr. James Curnow

A Night in June..............................................................Karl L. King

The American Way................Edwin Franko Goldman, arr. C. Carter

Selections from "Rocky".................Bill Conti, Carol Connors, and 

Ayn Robbins, arr. Robert W. Lowden

Miss Liberty March.................................................John Edmondson

Of Honor and Duty...................................................Dana F. Everson

Salute to America's Finest.....................................arr. Paul Lavender

The Stars and Stripes Forever................................John Philip Sousa

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

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

Here is a picture of our socially distanced rehearsal Monday night:

Additional Pre-Season Information

The first performance of the Chemical City Band for the 2020 season is just 5 days away.  Special procedures will be in place for this summer, among the musicians as well as the audience, in order to minimize the spread of the virus.  

All participants are required to bring a protective mask and practice social distancing (6 feet between family units) as prescribed by the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Midland.  Signs will post the current requirements for the venue.

Musicians: Monday setup of the expanded concert seating design will begin @ 6:30 pm.  Warm up and rehearsal will commence @ 7 pm when masks are removed for the first time.  Masks will be replaced immediately after the rehearsal in order to store chairs and stands.  The same procedure will be used for the Wednesday concert, except that setup is 7:00 pm.

In case of rain on Monday, we will attempt to play a concert on Wednesday with an abbreviated rehearsal, starting @ 6:30 pm.  In order to practice at home, please pick up your music folder Monday evening between 6:30 and 7:00 in the Central Park Elementary School parking lot on Collins St.  If rain forces a cancellation of the Wednesday concert (decision made by 5 pm), please return your folder that evening, same place & time.

I checked the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell today.  Thanks to Marcie Post, the porta potty has been installed and the fallen tree removed from the top of the hill.  The grass was newly mowed.  We expect the sound system and the flag will be delivered to the band shell on Wednesday in time for the 7:30 concert.

Parking is available off Collins St. (new lines and crack sealing should be finished Monday morning) and the overflow lot just over the hill.  Do not attempt to access Collins from the Community Center.  The road is under construction.

On May 5th the Chemical City Band participated once again in the Give Local Midland program, receiving $2020.00 in contributions from 22 donors and $507.35 in matching gifts from MACF.  Many thanks to all who called in for this one day event!

The Chemical City Band is a non-profit (501c3) musical organization.  Cash/check donations can be made during the concerts in one of the two snare drums (heads removed), or sent directly to 5709 Tiffany Lane, Midland, MI 48642.  Alternatively, donations towards our long term investment fund can be made to the Midland Area Community Foundation, 76 Ashman Circle, Midland, MI 48640.  Checks/grants should indicate the "Chemical City Band Endowment Fund #545".

Hope to see you all with masks at our first concert on July 1.

2020 Season Opening Remarks

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant changes to the 111th season of the Chemical City Band (CCB) this summer.  The CCB Board of Directors has met 3 times (via Zoom) over the last 2 months to determine if any concerts would be possible.  Yesterday we received permission from the Parks and Recreation Department of the City of Midland to rehearse and perform at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park in an abbreviated schedule.

We now have 6 Wednesday evening concerts (starting @ 7:30 pm) scheduled as follows:

2020 CCB Concert Dates

July 1

July 8

July 15

July 22

July 29

August 5

As in previous years, a single Monday rehearsal will start at 7 pm.  But that is where the similarity stops.  Because of social distancing requirements, we will set up the band shell in a marching band format to space individuals appropriately.  All musicians will wear masks for setup and tear down.  Our rehearsal time will be limited to about 2 hours.  Steve DeRees will conduct the band once again this year.

More information will be available in a future blog.  Additional information and last minute updates (including weather cancellations) will be available on our Facebook page: 

www.facebook.com/chemicalcityband

Everyone attending these events will practice social distancing as required by current federal, state, and local authorities.  If a resurgence of the virus is evident in Michigan, future concerts may be cancelled.  We hope to see you at the band shell this summer on July 1 and for at least a few future concerts.  

Week 7 - July 31 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its seventh concert of the 2019 season on Wednesday, July 31 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  Steve DeRees is returning to conduct this final concert of the season.

In case of rain, the performance will move to Central Auditorium.


The following musical selections will be presented:

Col. Barney Oldfield March.................Mark Azzolina, arr. H. Cable

Country Gardens.....................arr. Percy Grainger, ed. Brant Karrick

Summer's End (A Bossa Nova)............................William E. Rhoads

Freedom Forever March...........................................Dana F. Everson

Selections from "Brigadoon".........Frederick Loewe, arr. E. Leidzén
         Tara Ell, vocal soloist

Intermission

The Gladiator March..............................................John Philip Sousa

The Blue and the Gray.............................................Clare Grundman

Exaltation Overture for Band................................James Swearingen

Rolling Thunder March..............................................Henry Fillmore

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

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

Week 6 - July 24 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its sixth concert of the 2019 season on Wednesday, July 24 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  Our guest conductor is Tom Broka.

In case of rain, the performance will move to Central Auditorium.


The following musical selections will be presented:

Onward-Upward March.........Edwin Franko Goldman, ed. E.S. Lisk

Overture for Winds......................................................Charles Carter

ONE from "A Chorus Line"....Marvin Hamlisch & Edward Kleban,

arr. J. Vinson

Gabriel's Oboe, from "The Mission".....................Ennio Morricone, 

arr. R. Longfield

Intermission

On the Mall March.......................................Edwin Franko Goldman

Selections from "Oklahoma"............Richard Rogers, arr. E. Leidzén

Old Irish Tune.................................................................Larry Daehn

Selections from "Oliver!"........................Lionel Bart, arr. N. Leyden

O Canada................................................Calixa Lavallée, arr. V. Roy

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

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

Week 5 - July 17 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its sixth concert of the 2019 season on Wednesday, July 17 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  Our guest conductor is Chris O'Connell.

In case of rain, the performance will move to Central Auditorium.


The following musical selections will be presented:

Golden Jubilee March....................John Philip Sousa, ed. F. Fennell

On the Edge of Tomorrow......................................Michael Sweeney

Festival Celebration......................................................David Nelson

The Typewriter.............................Leroy Anderson, trans. F.E. Werle
          Karen Welser, typist

Intermission

Clarinet Marmalade..........................................arr. John Edmondson

Symphonic Chorale for Concert Band.........................Eric Osterling

A Huntingdon Celebration............................................Philip Sparke

The Great Waldo Pepper March........Henry Mancini, arr. J. Cacavas

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

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