NMC Community Band

About the Band

Formed in 1973, the NMC Community Concert Band comprises more than 50 musicians from throughout the region. Our mission is to provide extended education in music to college students and adults in the community. We are committed to the highest educational and artistic standards, while serving amateur and professional musicians. We strive to advance the musical growth of each member by programming challenging works and mastering the classics.

Concert Series

All concerts are at 8 p.m. in Milliken Auditorium. General admission is $8. Seniors 62 years and older and children ages 12 and under are $6. Tickets are available at the Milliken Auditorium box office, (231) 995-1553.

The programming will include numerous classic band works from the 20th century, including repertoire written by composers such as Vincent Persichetti, Percy Grainger, William Schumann and Norman Dello Joio.

About the Conductor

John W. Beery earned a Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Arts degrees from Central Michigan University. He was awarded a Rockefeller Foundation fellowship to attend the Teachers Performance Institute at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He has served as principal tuba with, among others, the Saginaw Symphony Orchestra, West Michigan Wind Ensemble, West Shore Symphony Orchestra, Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra and Manchester Symphony Orchestra. He served as director of the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble at Manchester College for 14 years. He also taught music at the Pathfinder School, and has been a member of the Interlochen Arts Camp staff for more than 26 years. He has commissioned two works for concert band, and has conducted several premiers of new works. Mr. Beery has conducted the NMC Summer Community Band for the past 11 seasons.