Greetings! After the trying times and shutdowns of the last couple of years, we are happy to let you know that the Brentwood Concert Band is rehearsing and performing again. We are rebuilding our band, and we would love you to be part of it!
If you can read music, have an instrument, and think you’d enjoy the band experience again, then air out your horn, exercise your embouchure, and come have some fun. (You will be surprised: Most players get their lip back with a few weeks of [ahem… consistent] practice!)
Who We Are
We are a group of musicians of all ages and backgrounds who enjoy making music for the fun of it. We want to grow and excel in our craft, and we want you to, as well. Any instrumentalist with a year or more experience who is willing to commit to weekly rehearsals and most performances is welcome to join us.
Our concert band is primarily a wind ensemble utilizing woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Strings are welcome, and we will certainly accommodate you. We do use a drum set occasionally. Piano players and guitarists will find a home in the percussion section.
We have no community residency requirements. Our members are drawn primarily from Brentwood and the surrounding cities of Antioch, Oakley, Discovery Bay, and Pittsburg, but we have (and have had) regular members attending from as far away as Tracy, Concord, and Stockton.
Interested In Joining Us?
Please contact one of the following people:
- Eric Bishton, Assistant Director – cell: 760.985.8962 or bcb@deeders.net
- Carey Hurst, Director – brentwoodconcertband@gmail.com
There is no independent audition process; we invite you to play along while we listen to you and gauge proficiency over a few rehearsals. Let us know you’re coming and what instrument(s) you play (so we can prepare some music for you), and we’ll sit down and have a good time.
If you are wondering, “How hard is the music?” Folks with high-school level training should have little problem. Middle-school players will be challenged. We play little music that requires collegiate-level training. If you are aware of concert band gradings, we generally play Grade 2 to Grade 3 difficulty pieces. We infrequently play easier pieces when the occasion calls for it (“Jingle Bells,” anyone?).
What We Play
We have a wide variety of Concert Band repertoire. We’re as happy playing “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” as we are playing Holst’s “Mars”. Most seasons’ music will contain a mixture of show tunes like “Pirates of the Caribbean,” or “How to Train Your Dragon,” and concert band fare such as Ticheli’s “Simple Gifts,” Grundman’s “American Folk Rhapsody,” and Grainger’s “Shepherd’s Hey.” We also play plenty of concert marches (Sousa, Alford, King), Christmas music, and the traditional patriotic fare.
We also have a Big Band forming to play hits from the Swing and Jazz era circa 1920 through 1960. If you like Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, the Dorsey brothers, Charlie Parker, Glenn Miller, and Duke Ellington, then you’ll be in the right place. So, if you’re a ‘hep jazz cat’ or a smokin’ hot trombone player, come on by and we’ll have some fun.
Where We Play
Most of our performances are in and around the City of Brentwood. We play regularly for national holidays, civic events, and lots of Christmas concerts. We often perform charity concerts for “Toys for Tots” and “Wreaths Across America.” Occasionally, we will perform with neighboring ensembles.
Where We Rehearse
Our current rehearsal hall is Hillside Church in Antioch, CA. We rehearse on Monday Nights at 7:00pm until 9:00pm. Big Band starts at 6:00pm (day and time may change).
The church address is 108 Hillside Road, Antioch, CA, 94509.
Does it cost anything?
There are no dues at this time (November 2022). Dues have traditionally been $30 per quarter, or $100 per year. We do not want that to ever be an impediment and we will always find a way to accommodate willing players.
Dues are used to acquire new music, pay for office supplies and sundry administrative costs (including licensing), and purchase band shirts used for our casual concerts.
The Brentwood Concert Band is sustained and promoted by the Brentwood Music Foundation. The Brentwood Music Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation; none of our staff receive compensation for their participation.