Strongsville Community Band

Strongsville Community Band is a concert band based in Strongsville, Ohio, performing a wide range of music from classical music to jazz and pop music, similar to the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. The band's repertoire includes works by famous composers such as John Philip Sousa, Gustav Holst, and Leonard Bernstein, as well as arrangements of popular songs by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson. As a community-based ensemble, the band often performs at local events, such as the Strongsville City Council's annual Fourth of July celebration and the Strongsville Community Festival, alongside other community groups like the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce and the Strongsville Historical Society.

● History

The Strongsville Community Band was founded in the early 1990s by a group of local musicians who wanted to create a community-based ensemble that would provide an opportunity for amateur musicians to perform and share their love of music with the community, similar to the Cleveland Music School Settlement and the Rocky River Chamber Music Society. The band's early years were marked by performances at local events, such as the Strongsville Farmers' Market and the Strongsville Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, which helped to establish the band as a staple of the Strongsville, Ohio community, alongside other local institutions like the Strongsville Public Library and the Strongsville City Schools. Over the years, the band has grown in size and scope, with performances at venues such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Botanical Garden, and the Playhouse Square, featuring guest conductors like Marin Alsop and Gustav Meier, and soloists like Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma.

● Organization

The Strongsville Community Band is a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors composed of local musicians, educators, and community leaders, including representatives from the Strongsville City Council, the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce, and the Cuyahoga County Arts Council. The band is led by a music director who is responsible for selecting the repertoire, rehearsing the band, and conducting performances, with assistance from assistant conductors and section leaders, similar to the Cleveland Orchestra and the Akron Symphony Orchestra. The band also has a number of committees that oversee various aspects of the organization, such as fundraising, marketing, and membership, which work closely with local businesses like the Strongsville Walmart and the Strongsville Giant Eagle to support the band's activities.

● Performances

The Strongsville Community Band performs a variety of concerts throughout the year, including indoor concerts at venues like the Strongsville High School and the Cuyahoga Community College, and outdoor concerts at parks and other public spaces, such as the Strongsville Community Park and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and RainForest. The band's performances often feature a mix of classical music, jazz, and pop music, with arrangements of popular songs by The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Queen (band), as well as original compositions by local composers like Jennifer Higdon and Michael Torke. The band has also performed with guest artists, such as the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and the Akron Symphony Chorus, and has collaborated with other local ensembles, like the Cleveland Youth Orchestra and the Cleveland Institute of Music.

● Membership

The Strongsville Community Band is open to musicians of all ages and skill levels, from amateur musicians to professional musicians, including students from the Cleveland Institute of Music, the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music, and the University of Akron School of Music. The band has a diverse membership, with players from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, including teachers, engineers, lawyers, and doctors, who come from cities like Cleveland, Ohio, Akron, Ohio, and Canton, Ohio. Members are expected to attend rehearsals regularly and participate in performances, and are encouraged to take on leadership roles within the organization, such as section leader or committee chair, similar to the Cleveland Orchestra and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

● Community_Involvement

The Strongsville Community Band is committed to community involvement and outreach, with a focus on music education and community engagement, similar to the Cleveland Music School Settlement and the Rocky River Chamber Music Society. The band has partnered with local schools and community organizations to provide music workshops and clinics, and has performed at charity events and fundraisers for organizations like the American Red Cross, the United Way, and the Cuyahoga County Animal Shelter. The band has also collaborated with other local arts organizations, such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Play House, and the Dobama Theatre, to promote the arts and culture in the Strongsville, Ohio community, alongside other local institutions like the Strongsville Public Library and the Strongsville Historical Society.