The Chemical City Band (CCB) closed its 116th season with a concert on Wednesday, July 23 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park. Weather-wise the evening was warm and sunny in contrast to rain in 3 of 7 weeks this year. Two concerts were held in Central Auditorium and one was cancelled due to unexpected rain just before concert time.
Two drum shells were available at each concert for donations of cash, coins, or checks. Performances averaged 48 players per week, taken from a roster of 82 musicians. 12 members played every week and 27 high school/college students participated at least one week. In total, 70 pieces of music were rehearsed on Monday and performed on Wednesday.
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
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. Additionally, Joel Wiseman was our guest conductor on June 11 and Owen DeLong was the trombone soloist on July 16.
In addition to contributions from the general public, the Board would like to acknowledge financial support from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation and the Alden and Vada Dow Family Foundation. The CCB also participated in the Give Local Midland one-day fund raiser sponsored by the Midland Area Community Foundation (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 by indicating the Chemcal City Band long term investment fund, #545. Any income is excess of expenses is deposited in our MACF fund with the goal of self-sufficiency in the future.
2025 Roster (alphabetical by first name)
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| CCB Roster 2025 |
