Belle Valley Community Band Logo
The History
of the
Belle Valley
Community Band
    The Belle Valley Community Band was founded in the summer of 1989 by long time Imlay City resident
Don BerkheiserDon Berkheiser, who wished for the community to have a town band like those he remembered from his youth. The band began rehearsing in Imlay City in July of 1989, while awaiting the results of a community contest to choose a name. On August 16, 1989, the band was given it's name and selected area band directors David Coon, John Cummins, Jack Seidler, and Gary Sutton as co-conductors of the band.
    BVCB gave its premiere performance on October 21, 1989 for the dedication of the Imlay City Gazebo.
Courtesy Tri-City Times
Photo courtesy of Tri-City Times
The band has since performed numerous concerts throughout mid-Michigan including performing in concert with local high school bands such as Capac, Dryden, Imlay City, and Lapeer West High Schools.
    BVCB has also performed several times in area community band festivals, including the Eastern Michigan Band Festival, the Southeastern Michigan Band Festival, and Battle of the Bands at the University of Michigan, Flint. In addition, BVCB has performed for several Imlay City Blueberry Festivals, the Tri-County Bank's 100th Anniversary Party in 1999, Ludwig Torzewski's 100th birthday party in 1993, the 125th Anniversary of the City of Imlay City (won Best Musical or Marching Unit prize in the parade), the 1990 CROP Walk in Imlay City, the 1989 Christmas Benefit and Talent Show in Capac, and numerous Venture High School Commencement ceremonies in Imlay City.
     On April 23, 2006, the band closed out a chapter of it's history, with the retirement of David Coon as band director. Dave directed the band from it's first concert in 1989 but will continue performing in the trombone section!
Dave Coon and Art Smith
  Dave, receiving a plaque from BVCB President Art Smith
Dave with Art

Dave with Retirement Cake
Dave with his retirement cake.

In the fall of 2006, we started a new chapter in the band's history, with both a new conductor, Brian McCloskey, and a new location, the Almont High School Band Room.

In 2008, in addition to our usual concerts, we began performing collaborative fall concerts with the Flint Symphonic Wind Ensemble at Davison High School.

On May 27, 2009 we celebrated the band's 20th anniversary with a special cake and punch after our concert!

As of September, 2009, Steven Burns, and Christine Dodge have joined Dennis Burns as co-conductors of the band, while Brian McCloskey has stepped down as a conductor to concentrate on composing and playing his horn. We wish him all the best!

In January of 2010, we changed our location to Imlay City High School, where we rehearse on Tuesday nights and present our regular concerts. On March 21, 2010 we performed a special concert at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grosse Point Woods, MI, as a part of their sponsored concert series.
BelleValley Community Band





Conductors, Past and Present
David Coon (1989 - 2006)
John Cummins (1989 - 1990)
Jack Seidler (1989 - 1990)
Gary Sutton (1989 - 1990)
Steven Burns (1991; 2009 - present)
Dennis Burns (1992 - present)
Brian McCloskey (2006 - 2008)
Christine Dodge (2009 - present)

Guest/Alternate Conductors
Christine Dodge (4-23-2006, 1 to 4-2008, 1 to 5-2009)
Steven Burns (9 to 12-2008)
Soloists with the Band
Dennis Burns - Clarinet
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Rondo from Concerto for Clarinet

Steven R. Burns - Trumpet
Franz Joseph Haydn - Allegro from Concerto for Trumpet
Leroy Anderson - A Trumpeter's Lullaby
Leroy Anderson - Bugler's Holiday

Caroline Cates
Leroy Anderson - Bugler's Holiday

David Coon - Trombone
Rimsky-Korsakov - Concerto for Trombone

Christine Dodge - Flute
Cecile Chaminade - Concertino
Franz Doppler - Andante and Rondo for 2 Flutes and Wind Ensemble

Dan Dodge - Euphonium
Robert Smith - Willson Suite for Euphonium and Band, mvt. 3

Michael Dodge - Alto Saxophone
Carl Maria Von Weber - Concertino for Saxophone and Band

Brian McCloskey - Horn
Camille Saint-Saens - Concertpiece for Solo Horn and Wind Ensemble

Andy Schmid - Tuba
Don Haddad/arr. Robert E. Clemens - Suite for Tuba and Band

Kim J. Teal - C Flute, C & Db Piccolos, and Alto Flute
Henri Kling - The Elephant and the Fly for Db Piccolo, Euphonium, and Band
Franz Doppler - Andante and Rondo for 2 Flutes and Wind Ensemble
Robert Smith - Gemeinhardt Suite for C Flute/C Piccolo/Alto Flute and Band
Aaron Tindall - Euphonium
Robert Smith - Willson Suite for Euphonium and Band, mvt. 1

Todd Tindall - Euphonium
Robert Smith - Willson Suite for Euphonium and Band, mvt. 2
Henri Kling - The Elephant and the Fly for Db Piccolo, Euphonium, and Band
James Curnow - Rhapsody for Euphonium and Band

Lori Walker - Euphonium
Robert Smith - Willson Suite for Euphonium and Band, mvt. 4

Tim Waelde
Leroy Anderson - Bugler's Holiday

  

Featured Sections of the Band
Flutes
Eric Osterling - Beguine for Flutes

Clarinets
Leroy Anderson - Clarinet Candy

Saxophones
Billy Joel/Sweeney - Root Beer Rag

Trumpets
Leroy Anderson - Bugler's Holiday

Trombones
Henry Fillmore - Lassus Trombone
Karl L. King - The Trombone King
Meredith Wilson/Bocook - 76 Trombones

Low Brass
G. H. Huffine - Them Basses

Brass
James Curnow - Fanfare and Flourishes
Strauss - Fanfare for the Vienna Philharmonic
Charter Members of the Band (1989 - present)
Don Davenport
Scott Dodge
Dave Coon
Art Smith


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