About The Band
A BRIEF HISTORY AND PURPOSE:
Across the United States, there are hundreds of community bands, orchestras, and choirs of volunteer musicians keeping music alive in their local cities. Utah is no exception. In Iron County, the Orchestra of Southern Utah, the Master Singers, and In Jubilo, among others have been functioning for decades. There is also a history of several wonderful small jazz groups who have and are performing regularly. However, Cedar City Community Band is the only ensemble for adult musicians seeking a full band experience.
The community band is not new to the state of Utah. Near the turn of the century, nearly every town in Utah had some sort of community band, including Cedar City. This tradition was lost over the years and is now regaining its place in the lives of the members of our local community. Over the years there have been several attempts to restart the Cedar City Community Band, but they all folded a few short years later. The current incarnation of the Cedar City Community Band (CCCB) was started in 2016 by SUU Band Director Dr. Adam Lambert. In August of 2020, he turned the reins over to Steve Shirts, who recently retired as the Director of Bands at Cedar High School after 32 years. In January 2021, the Cedar City Community Band was incorporated with the State of Utah and applied for and received 501(3)(c) non-profit status.
MISSION STATEMENT:
The mission of the Cedar City Community Band is to foster and promote the concept of the adult community band through the following objectives:
To prepare and perform pieces from the full spectrum of concert band literature.
To provide adults with an opportunity to expand their musical skills within the context of a large ensemble.
To provide entertainment and education to the community by means of free public performances.
To provide the opportunity for young people to continue their involvement in music.
CURRENT SITUATION:
The band currently operates under the umbrella of SUU Community Education. Participants are asked to register online and pay a $40 fee every semester. We think that the participants should be able to participate for free. The registration fee turned potential participants away in the past. We also have several families with multiple members participating at a significant price. (4 in one family and 3 for two others) Our hope is that through RAP tax, sponsorships, and other avenues, the goal of free participation can be accomplished.
The CCCB rehearses weekly within the SUU academic calendar. The membership of the band represents diverse professions including lawyers, teachers, insurance agents, retirees, college students, public school students, and many others. As with any ensemble, members are asked to practice outside of rehearsal to prepare for the upcoming concert.
Members of the CCCB come to the band for many reasons. Many come looking for an opportunity to refresh their talents and continue what they had started while in their school years. The CCCB provides such an experience. As with other community and school music groups in the Cedar City area, the CCCB strives for musical excellence in everything they do.
The band has grown from a humble beginning from approximately 20 members to 65 this spring semester. These are musicians who have dusted off their instruments to once again make music for their own enjoyment and to share their musical skills with others. The band currently performs 2 concerts a year performing on the same concert with the SUU Wind Symphony. Anyone desiring further information on the CCCB can contact the director, Steve Shirts at cedarcitycommunityband.org.
VISION FOR THE FUTURE:
The vision of the Cedar City Community Band is to bring entertainment, culture and joy to the surrounding community. As membership grows, we hope to be able to:
• stand on our own as a performing group.
• purchase sheet music and other needed equipment;
• until then, pay rent to Cedar High and the Iron County School District for use of
facilities and equipment;
• and possibly, the formation of a Big Band similar to the Win Seegmiller Big Band from
years past.