First-Ever Community Band Music Festival in San Antonio
On Mar, 26, The Greater San Antonio Community Bands Association (GSCBA) will hold its first-ever Community Band Music Festival.
The GSACBA is composed of nine community bands in the San Antonio area who have teamed up to create this partnership and present wind band music for the public.
These greater San Antonio-area bands came together last summer and decided that an association was necessary in order to establish this gala festival. Such an association was organized to support each other in music endeavors, education, management and recruiting.
They partnered with the Beethoven Maennerchor, a music organization that has existed in the Alamo City for over 155 years, to host this festival on its campus in the King William District. Music from each of the bands will be a combination of wind band music from around the world, as well as some local composers
“Community bands in this area are filled with professional, semi-professional musicians, band directors, military musicians and college and high school musicians. They serve to enhance the community experience in San Antonio by providing free, high quality music for people to enjoy,” said Toby Knight, president of the GSCBA .
“They further provide lifelong musicians the opportunity to continue their musical performance activities in their local community. This synergistic approach to music enhances communities as a whole.”
“We hope that the public will support this event and attend this day-long festival,” he added. “German food and beverages will be provided for purchase by the wonderful German cooks at the Beethoven Maennerchor. They might even sing you a song if you ask!”
The program will feature these bands:
- Alamo City Community Marching Band
- San Antonio Community Wind Ensemble
- Beethoven Dance Band
- County Line Community Band
- Helotes Area Community Band
- Heart of Texas Concert Band
- Beethoven Concert Band
This family-friendly event will be held at the Beethoven Maennerchor Outdoor Garden, 422 Pereida Street. Admission is a $5.00 donation, payable at the door. More information can be obtained by calling the GSCBA at (210) 885-2137.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE
On Sunday, Mar. 20, 2022, the County Line Community Band will perform their “Composers Tribute Concert” in the Buena Vista Theater on the UTSA Downtown Campus from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. This concert will feature music from San Antonio native Charles L. Booker, who is a retired US Army Bandmaster and professor of music. Mr. Booker is a nationally recognized composer who was recently commissioned by the Texas Bandmasters Association to write a new composition in celebration of their 75th Anniversary this summer. This concert is free and open to the public.
Feature photo: members of the County Line Community Band.
