Mission Statement
The Grand Rapids Symphonic Band is a premier adult community band that fosters excellence in
performance, supports instrumental music as a lifelong experience and contributes to the enrichment of cultural life in the greater Grand Rapids area.
This mission incorporates the following objectives:
1. To provide artistically challenging and innovative band concerts.
2. To give our audiences, sponsors and members experiences with the highest quality wind band music from a wide range of musical styles.
3. To support instrumental music education and lifelong music learning through programs including
clinics, conferences, solo competition and outreach concerts.
4. To serve as an exemplary model in fostering the growth and development of community bands.
The Grand Rapids Symphonic Band is a premier adult community band that fosters excellence in
performance, supports instrumental music as a lifelong experience and contributes to the enrichment of cultural life in the greater Grand Rapids area.
This mission incorporates the following objectives:
1. To provide artistically challenging and innovative band concerts.
2. To give our audiences, sponsors and members experiences with the highest quality wind band music from a wide range of musical styles.
3. To support instrumental music education and lifelong music learning through programs including
clinics, conferences, solo competition and outreach concerts.
4. To serve as an exemplary model in fostering the growth and development of community bands.
History
Founded in 1978, The Grand Rapids Symphonic Band is a premier auditioned adult community band that fosters excellence in performance, supports instrumental music as a lifelong experience and contributes to the enrichment of cultural life in the greater Grand Rapids area.
During its 47-year history the Conductors of the Band have included:
Barry Martin 2004-Present
Dr. John Stanley Ross 1998-2003
Kennistan Bauman 1988-1998
William Root 1978-1988 (Founder)
Notable historic performances of the band include the following:
The Midwest Music Clinic - (coming in December 2025)
International Trumpet Guild 2013 – 2 performances with 5 different internationally known soloists
Michigan Music Conference MMC 2007 and 2019 - Invitation by Audition
Midwestern Conference on School Vocal & Instrumental Music organized by Dr. William Revelli 1989
American School Band Directors Association Annual Convention - Invitation by Audition 1996
Association of Concert Bands Annual Convention 2010 – Invitation by Audition
Red Cedar Band Festival 2005 and 2018 – Invitation by Audition
Bands on the Grand Festival 2013
Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts – Every Year from 1978 – 2024
Historically, the GRSB presented an annual series of five to six concerts in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Outreach concerts are also part of the concert season and have included venues in Muskegon, Rockford, South Haven, Hudsonville, Coopersville, Allendale, and Cedar Springs.
Commissioned works by the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band include:
Nightmare Variations on the Holst Suites (consortium commission) by Michael Mikulka
(GRSB presented the second public performance of this work in December 2024)
Distance Imagined by Matthew Schoendorff 2012
Silver Fanfare by Ryan Fraley 2003
Grand and Rapid by David Wells 2001
Grand Rapids Suite by John Zdechlik 1990
Recently, the GRSB has performed 5 concerts each season at the Grandville High School Auditorium in in greater Grand Rapids. In that permanent facility audience attendance has grown each year and is now surpassing pre-covid numbers. The GRSB is a diverse group of volunteer auditioned musicians including men and women of all ages. The membership is comprised of adults who want to continue playing their instruments after high school or college. The band members donate considerable time and effort throughout the year to make the GRSB a superb ensemble. Individual practice time, weekly group rehearsals, and performances put demands on the musicians’ already busy schedules. The band members understand and value the importance of lifelong learning in music and in contributing to the continuing music education of area high school students and the public. The love of music and performing difficult music at an extremely artistic level is why the GRSB began and why it continues to flourish.
To further the mission of supporting music education in the area, the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band
offers free admission to students, and a reduced-price ticket for an accompanying adult. The GRSB also manages an annual Youth Soloist Competition for high-school students with a $1000 scholarship award towards advanced music study.
An annual side by side rehearsal enables advanced students recommended by local band directors to gain some knowledge of playing in advanced bands and music as a lifelong experience.
Every two years, the band holds a Member Soloist Competition in which the winning band member
performs a solo with the band.
Founded in 1978, The Grand Rapids Symphonic Band is a premier auditioned adult community band that fosters excellence in performance, supports instrumental music as a lifelong experience and contributes to the enrichment of cultural life in the greater Grand Rapids area.
During its 47-year history the Conductors of the Band have included:
Barry Martin 2004-Present
Dr. John Stanley Ross 1998-2003
Kennistan Bauman 1988-1998
William Root 1978-1988 (Founder)
Notable historic performances of the band include the following:
The Midwest Music Clinic - (coming in December 2025)
International Trumpet Guild 2013 – 2 performances with 5 different internationally known soloists
Michigan Music Conference MMC 2007 and 2019 - Invitation by Audition
Midwestern Conference on School Vocal & Instrumental Music organized by Dr. William Revelli 1989
American School Band Directors Association Annual Convention - Invitation by Audition 1996
Association of Concert Bands Annual Convention 2010 – Invitation by Audition
Red Cedar Band Festival 2005 and 2018 – Invitation by Audition
Bands on the Grand Festival 2013
Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts – Every Year from 1978 – 2024
Historically, the GRSB presented an annual series of five to six concerts in Grand Rapids and surrounding areas. Outreach concerts are also part of the concert season and have included venues in Muskegon, Rockford, South Haven, Hudsonville, Coopersville, Allendale, and Cedar Springs.
Commissioned works by the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band include:
Nightmare Variations on the Holst Suites (consortium commission) by Michael Mikulka
(GRSB presented the second public performance of this work in December 2024)
Distance Imagined by Matthew Schoendorff 2012
Silver Fanfare by Ryan Fraley 2003
Grand and Rapid by David Wells 2001
Grand Rapids Suite by John Zdechlik 1990
Recently, the GRSB has performed 5 concerts each season at the Grandville High School Auditorium in in greater Grand Rapids. In that permanent facility audience attendance has grown each year and is now surpassing pre-covid numbers. The GRSB is a diverse group of volunteer auditioned musicians including men and women of all ages. The membership is comprised of adults who want to continue playing their instruments after high school or college. The band members donate considerable time and effort throughout the year to make the GRSB a superb ensemble. Individual practice time, weekly group rehearsals, and performances put demands on the musicians’ already busy schedules. The band members understand and value the importance of lifelong learning in music and in contributing to the continuing music education of area high school students and the public. The love of music and performing difficult music at an extremely artistic level is why the GRSB began and why it continues to flourish.
To further the mission of supporting music education in the area, the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band
offers free admission to students, and a reduced-price ticket for an accompanying adult. The GRSB also manages an annual Youth Soloist Competition for high-school students with a $1000 scholarship award towards advanced music study.
An annual side by side rehearsal enables advanced students recommended by local band directors to gain some knowledge of playing in advanced bands and music as a lifelong experience.
Every two years, the band holds a Member Soloist Competition in which the winning band member
performs a solo with the band.