2020 Season Closing Remarks

 The Chemical City Band (CCB) concluded its 2020 season with an August 5 concert at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park.  The concert was played without the traditional Monday evening rehearsal, because rain prevented us from gathering at the band shell.  Wednesday evening was warm with sunshine and well attended by a large and very appreciative audience.  An all-time record cash contribution total was received in the drum shells that night.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 season was unique in many other ways (several listed below):

• The CCB Board of Directors (Board) met twice, starting in April, to determine if any concerts were possible.
• In June, the City of Midland gave permission to use the band shell for all rehearsals and concerts, if social distancing could be practiced by the musicians.
• The Board met once again to discuss the Hold Harmless and Waiver agreement required by Midland Parks & Recreation and set a 6 concert season to begin 2 weeks later than usual.
• A seating arrangement was created on the concrete slab and tested with 38 chairs, maintaining a 6 foot spacing.
• The first rehearsal was held at the band shell on June 29.  
• Musicians wore masks on arrival and departure.  While seated, the masks could be removed for warm-up and performance.  
• Percussionists and conductor (standing) wore masks continuously.
• Flutes were placed in the front row, because most of the air passes directly over the embouchure hole with no obstruction.
• The Board was responsible for setup and tear down at each service, minimizing the contact between musicians and with chairs/music stands.
• Both rehearsals and concerts were performed without an intermission.
• An average of 39 musicians (out of 76 on the roster) played each week (normally ~50), and 21 members performed all 6 weeks.

The CCB has a six-member volunteer Board, who are also members of the band:

• Richard S. Harner, president
• Susan Gessford, vice-president
• Gaye Terwillegar, secretary
• Richard L. Scott, treasurer
• Stephen DeRees, music director
• Mara Stewart, publicity director

In addition to contributions from the general public, the Board would like to acknowledge financial support from The Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundations and The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation.  The CCB also participated in the Give Local Midland one-day fundraiser in May, sponsored by the Midland Area Community Foundation.  Contributions can be made at any time to the MACF by indicating the Chemical City Band long-term investment fund.

The precautions we took were prudent and in line with state and local requirements.  As far as we know, no new cases of Covid-19 transmission were due to CCB performances.  Hopefully, 2021 will bring a return to normal schedules and musical gatherings.

Hope to see you all next summer,

Rich Harner, chairman of the Board

First Rehearsal from 100'

Week 6 - August 5 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its sixth and final concert of the 2020 season at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  Because the regular rehearsal was cancelled due to rain Monday night, we will only rehearse briefly before the performance - a first for the band!  

In case of rain Wednesday night, the concert is cancelled.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.  Social distancing is still required.  Please bring your face mask to protect yourself and others.

Steve DeRees continues as our director.  The following musical selections will be presented without intermission:

The NC-4 March..............................................Frederick E. Bigelow

American Sketches...................................................Barry E. Kopetz
     A Folk Song Set of Wisconsin

Wave the Flag (for Old Chicago).......Gordon Erickson, arr. P. Yoder
     University of Chicago Fight Song

Glasgow Sketches.............................................arr. John Edmondson

Washington and Lee Swing...............C.A. Robbins, T.W. Allen, and

M.W. Sheafe, arr. W.C. Schoenfeld

When Yuba Plays the Rumba on the Tuba........Herman Hupfeld, 

arranged by William Teague

Rock Around the Clock........Max C. Freedman & Jimmy DeKnight

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

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

The 2020 season has been unique.  We want to thank our faithful and attentive audience for their participation in the safety requirements, including social distancing and wearing face masks.  Without this cooperation, were would not be able to present 6 concerts this year.

Week 5 - July 29 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its fifth concert of the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 29 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 other appropriate venue this summer.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing will be practiced by all.  Please bring your face mask to protect yourself and others.

Steve DeRees continues as our conductor.  The following musical selections will be presented without intermission:

Aces High March..................................Ron Goodwin, arr. L. Daehn

Chesford Portrait...................................................James Swearingen

The Magic of Harry Potter.....................................arr. Michael Story

Variants on an Irish Hymn..........John Ness Beck, arr. J. Tatgenhorst

Root Beer Rag.........................................Billy Joel, arr. M. Sweeney
    Sax Section Feature

Moscow, 1941...........................................................Brian Balmages

The Gallant Seventh.......................John Philip Sousa, arr. F. Fennell

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

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


The following image was captured at our first concert of social distancing.

Week 4 - July 22 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its fourth concert of the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 22 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 other appropriate venue this summer.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing will be practiced by all.  Please bring your facemask to the concert to protect yourself and others.

Steve DeRees continues as our conductor.  The following musical selections will be presented without intermission:

Pioneers......................................................................Ralph Hultgren

Ragtime Overture.........................Irwin Levine and Russell Brown, 

arr. P. Yoder

Hickory Hills, Concert March.....................................George Kenny

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

Bonds of Unity.................................Karl L. King, arr. J. Swearingen

Reverberations..........................................................Brian Balmages

Medley from "The Little Mermaid"................Howard Ashman and 

Alan Menken, arr. J. Bocook

Semper Fidelis........................................................John Philip Sousa

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

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


This sign was modified for 2020 and is placed Wednesday morning in Central Park. It is visible when travelling on Rodd Street towards the circle:

Week 3 - July 15 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform its third concert of the 2020 season on Wednesday, July 15 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 other appropriate venue this summer.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing will be practiced by all.  Please bring your facemask to the concert to protect yourself and others.

Steve DeRees is our musical conductor.  The following selections will be presented without intermission:

Jubiloso.............................................................................Ed Huckby

Universal Pictures Suite "JAWS".......John Williams, arr. J. Cacavas

La Rosita....................................Gustave Haenschen, arr. J. Cacavas

The Washington Post......................John Philip Sousa, arr. P. Sparke

Elegy for the U.S.S. Arizona................................Larry MacTaggart

New Millenium Overture.................................................Gary Fagan

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

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

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


In the center of this image is the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, taken from 400 feet during our initial rehearsal of the season:

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.