May 13 rehearsal to kick off Brazil Concert Band season

BRAZIL -- The Brazil Concert Band, under the direction of Matthew S. Huber, will begin its 157th year of continuous musical operations on Tuesday, May 13 at the Northview High School band room at 7 p.m.

The second rehearsal is also at Northview at 7 p.m. May 20, with the rest of the season at Forest Park rain or shine.

The Forest Park concerts begin Sunday, June 1 at 8 p.m. and continue through Aug. 24 at the Forest Park bandshell. In case of rain, performances take place in the Forest Park pavilion.

The June 29 and Aug. 24 shows will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The BCB invites interested Wabash Valley musicians to join the traditions and fun by attending this first rehearsal. Interested musicians can call Huber at 812-448-3420 or email MMJJHUBER@aol.com for details.

The BCB has a web page at brazilconcertband.org and Facebook for stories, photos and updates.

Requirements include being at least a freshman in high school, owning one's band instrument and committing to the busy BCB musical schedule of 13 consecutive Sunday evening concerts, Tuesday evening rehearsals and two special performances.

Organized in 1858, the BCB was then known as the Brazil Cornet Band, an all brass band, until 1895 when woodwinds became standard in bands as introduced nationwide by composer-conductors Patrick Gilmore and John Philip Sousa.

With the addition of piccolos, flutes, clarinets, saxophones and double reed instruments, the name Brazil Concert Band evolved.

During its first year of existence, the BCB was hired to play in Illinois for one of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates and during the Civil War, the younger men of the band enlisted together and served in the Union Army as musicians, medics and infantry.

With the establishment of Forest Park in 1920, the Brazil Concert began its long-standing engagements and still is sponsored by the Brazil Parks and Recreation Board.

During World War II, women joined the ranks of the BCB and today's band is 50-50 male and female.

There are 75 musicians in today's Brazil Concert Band which earned the Sudler Silver Scroll for Historic American Bands in 2006 through the John Philip Sousa foundation.

The BCB has recorded twice with the compact discs "The Jewell of the Wabash" and "The Brazil Special" with sales throughout the world.

The Brazil Concert Band features band music ranging from light classics, marches, waltzes and overtures to Broadway favorites, Big Band era hits and music from movies and popular culture.

The BCB and the musicians of the Jackson Township Community Band are the custodians of the stock music by Indiana composer Fred Jewell thanks to Fred Jewell Jr. The senior Jewell played in the BCB early in the 20th century and his son performed with both bands the last 20 years of his life.

Aside from the 13 Sunday concerts, the BCB will also play for the Clay County Courthouse Centennial on Sept. 6 and perform its annual fall concert Nov. 23 at the First Baptist Church in Terre Haute.

Director Huber is in his 33rd year as conductor of the BCB having served longer than all previous leaders.

Darlene Shepard is band president and is chief librarian, Cathy Thompson is secretary-treasurer and Melanie Huber is stage manager.

The musicians of the Brazil Concert Band invite the public to join them each and every Sunday starting June 1.