NMC Community Band begins season under new baton

Traverse City, MI – The NMC Community Band will begin its 2008-09 season Oct. 24 under the baton of new conductor John Beery.

Band concert dates are Oct. 24, Nov. 21, Feb. 27, 2009 and April 26, 2009. All concerts are at 8 p.m. in Milliken Auditorium. 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.  

Beery, who has also conducted the NMC Summer Community Band for 11 seasons, earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Central Michigan University in 1961 and a Master of Arts degree from CMU in 1962. He spent 22 years teaching music in Michigan public schools and then 14 years at Manchester College in Indiana as director of the Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble. He retired from Manchester in 1998 and moved to Interlochen, where he has been a member of the Interlochen Arts Camp staff for 26 years.

Active as a performer (tuba) at Interlochen, Beery has also served as a member of the Faculty Staff Orchestra, Sunday Morning Brass Choir, Faculty Brass Ensemble, and Sousa Band.

 “The NMC Community Band is comprised of many fine performers whose professional backgrounds are rich and varied. I am fortunate to have this opportunity to make music with such good musicians and fine people. Their dedication, enthusiasm, talent, and hard work are truly impressive,” Beery said.

The NMC Community Concert Band was formed in 1973 and now totals more than 50 members. It is comprised of young energetic high school and college students learning side-by-side with experienced adults.