Week 7 - July 22 Concert

The Chemical City Band will present its 7th concert of the 2026 season on Wednesday, July 22 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  The weather is looking good tomorrow, but smoke from Canada is still a possibility.  We do not have access to Central Auditorium this week, so concert cancellation could result.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.  Because this is the last concert of the season, musicians must turn in their music folders and pick up checks at the band shell, even if the concert is cancelled.

Steve DeRees is conducting this final concert, but will be stepping down from the position of Music Director.  Next year you may see him performing in the saxophone or tuba sections of the band.  Tonight he will present the following musical selections:

 

Colonel Bogey............................................................................................................Kenneth J. Alford, ed. F. Fennell

Summertime...............................................................................................................George Gershwin, arr. C. Custer

Glenn Miller in Concert.........................................................................................................Glenn Miller, arr. W. Scott

Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite March.............................................................................Karl L. King, arr. G.C. Bainum

Midland Saxophone Quartet

John Anderson, Phil Bossenberger, Larry Carbary, Tim Lemke 

Three Shades of Blues..............................................................................................................................Paul Nagle

The William Tell Overture.......................................................................................Giacchino Rossini, arr. K. Agioritis

Intermission

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

Five to Go.................................................................................................................................................Jack Bullock

Dixieland Jam!...........................................................................................................arr. Bob Lowden and S. DeRees

Yakety Sax........................................................................................James Rich and Boots Randolph, arr. J. Vinson

On the Campus 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

Glenn Miller

Week 6 - July 15 Concert

UPDATE:  The concert will be held in Central Auditorium tonight due to heat and air quality advisories.

The Chemical City Band will present its 6th concert of the 2026 season on Wednesday, July 15 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  The weather report forecasts a high of 94 F in the afternoon, dropping to the upper 80's with 40% humidity by concert time.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

Steve DeRees will conduct the following musical selections:

 

Seventy-Six Trombones.......................................................................................Meredith Willson, arr. L. Anderson

Disney at the Oscars.........................................................................................................................arr. John Moss

The Rowan Tree.....................................................................................................................Randall D. Standridge

The Sound of Music...........................................................................................Richard Rodgers, arr. R.R. Bennett

 Emma Longoria, vocal soloist

Intermission

His Honor..................................................................................................................Henry Fillmore, ed. F. Fennell

The Spirit Soars................................................................................................................................James Curnow

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

Pop and Rock Legends:  Music of the Beetles.......................................................................arr. Michael Sweeney

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

Richard Rodgers

Week 5 - July 8 Concert

The Chemical City Band will present its 5th concert on the 2026 season on Wednesday, July 8 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  The weather forecast is looking great this week.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.

Steve DeRees will conduct the following musical selections:

International Accord Grand March......................................................................Edwin Franko Goldman, arr Erik Leidzen

Mountain Majesty Overture...............................................................................................................................Paul Yoder

I’ll See You in My Dreams...........................................................................Gus Kahn & Isham Jones, arr C. Paul Herfurth

Loch Lomond...............................................................................................................Clive Richardson, arr. W. J. Dawson

Get Smart...................................................................................................................Irving Szathmary, arr. Michael Brown

When Yuba Plays the Rumba on the Tuba..................................................................Herman Hupfeld, arr. William Teague

Intermission

Brighton Beach Concert March...................................................................................................................William P. Latham

Acclamation....................................................................................................................................................James Curnow

Top Gun.....................................................................................................................................Arranged by Robert W. Smith

The Free Lance 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

Edwin Franko Goldman

Special July 4 Concert

The Chemical City Band will perform at America's 250th Celebration event held on July 4 in Midland between the Dow Diamond and the East End, starting at 3:00 PM.  The following musical selections will be presented:

Carnegie Anthem..............................................................................................William Owens

American Patrol.................................................................................................F.W. Meacham

Armed Forces on Parade (A.F.O.P.) 2023................................arr. Navy Band School of Music

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

The Star-Spangled Banner..............................................sung a cappella by Gretchen Shope

God Bless America........................................................................Irving Berlin, arr. John Moss

St. Louis Blues March.....................................................................W.C. Handy, arr. Jerry Gray

Steve DeRees will conduct these patriotic pieces interspersed with community readings and presentations. Gretchen Shope, winner of the 2024 Jimmy Awards and currently appearing on stage in the SUFFS National Tour, will sing the National Anthem.

CCB members only: Report to the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band shell at 1:30 pm to load the H.H. Dow music trailer and carpool over to the Dow Diamond for unloading.  Due to road construction, the normal route is detoured.  Drive south on Jefferson, take a right on Austin/Indian, left on Third, then right on Ellsworth towards the Loons parking lot.  Turn towards the brick wall and follow around to the restricted parking area south of the stadium.  A traffic guard should let you through the barricade.  Your white shirt and long black pants will convince him that you are with the CCB.  Good luck.

Gretchen Shope

Week 4 - July 1 Concert

The Chemical City Band will present its 4th concert of the 2026 season on Wednesday, July 1 in Central Auditorium (305 E Reardon St), starting at 7:30 PM.  The change in venue is due to the extreme heat conditions predicted during concert time.  Please check this blog or our Facebook page for any further updates.

The band will also participate in Midland's America's 250th Celebration at 3:00 PM on Saturday, July 4 on a portable band shell set in the grassy area between the Dow Diamond and East End.  A separate blog will be published later this week with more details.

Steve DeRees will present the following musical selections during the Wednesday evening concert:

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

Carnegie Anthem.............................................................................................................................William Owens

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

A Colonial Legend...........................................................................................................................Clare Grundman

Emblem of Unity March.......................................................................................................................J. J. Richards

American Legacy No. 1..................................................................................................................arr. Charles Carter

Intermission

St. Louis Blues March....................................................................................................W. C. Handy, arr. Jerry Gray

Military Escort March.........................................................................................................................Harold Bennett

Armed Forces on Parade (A.F.O.P.) 2023.................................................................arr. Navy Band School of Music

American Patrol.................................................................................................................................F. W. Meacham

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

The Stars and Stripes Forever 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

John Philip Sousa

Week 3 - June 24 Concert

The Chemical City Band will present its third concert of the 2026 season on Wednesday, June 24 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  Again, rain is in the forecast so check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.  The concert will be moved to Central Auditorium if the weather does not cooperate.

Steve DeRees will present the following musical pieces for your listening pleasure:

 

Alamo March..................................................................................................................Karl L. King, arr. J. Swearingen

Spirtuals!.......................................................................................................................arr. Charlie Hill & Chuck Elledge

Rachmaninoff:  Prelude.....................................................................................................................arr. Anne McGinty

Ceremonial Sketch...................................................................................................................................Thomas Tyra

Drums of America......................................................................................................John Warrington & George Frock

Intermission

March "Salutation".....................................................................................................Roland F. Seitz, arr. R.E. Thurston

Big Sky Overture......................................................................................................................................Philip Sparke

Salute to Bob Hope..........................................................................................................................arr. Warren Barker

Panorama USA.................................................................................................................................James D. Ployhar

The Invincible Eagle 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

 

Karl L. King

Week 2 - June 17 Concert

UPDATE:  The concert will be held in Central Auditorium tonight due to adverse weather predictions.

The Chemical City Band will present its second concert of the 2026 season on Wednesday, June 17 at the Nicholson-Guenther Community Band Shell in Midland's Central Park, starting at 7:30 PM.  Rain is a real possibility this evening, so check this blog or our Facebook page for last minute updates.  The concert will be moved to Central Auditorium if the weather does not cooperate.

Steve DeRees, the Director of Bands for the H.H. Dow High School, returns as conductor.  He will present the following musical selections:

 

Amparito Roca Spanish March...........................................................................................................Jaime Texidor

Fantasy Adventure at the Movies..................................................................................................arr. Michael Brown

Travelin’ Trumpets............................................................................................................................James D Ployhar

Starlight Memories.........................................................................................................................Darren W Jenkins

Malagueña........................................................................................................Ernesto Lecuona, arr. Sammy Nestico

Intermission

Coldplay on Stage...............................................................Berryman, Buckland, Champion, & Martin, arr. M. Brown

Sway (recorded by Michael Bublé)..........................................................................Pablo Beltran Ruiz, arr. M. Brown

Motown Medley.................................................................................................................................arr. Allen Schmidt

Sabre and Spurs................................................................................................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 

 

Michael Brown