The City of Lakes Community Band—known as the Calhoun-Isles Community Band until 2018—was founded in 1981 by a group of musicians who envisioned a concert band devoted to bringing people together through music. Their dream was simple yet powerful: create a space where community members of all backgrounds could gather, rehearse, and perform purely for the love of music. The spark came when Bill Scripps agreed to serve as the fledgling ensemble’s first director. After approaching West High School in Uptown Minneapolis for rehearsal space, the school not only welcomed the group but also hired Scripps to lead their own band program.

The band held its first rehearsal in September 1981 and gave its inaugural concert just a few months later in the West High School auditorium. That first performance showcased a rich mix of classic and seasonal repertoire, including Stars and Stripes Forever and Manhattan Beach by John Philip Sousa, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by J.S. Bach, Suite of Angels by C.R. Spinney, Winter Wonderland by D. Smith, selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, and the third movement of Holst’s First Suite in E-flat. In its first season, the ensemble grew rapidly—expanding from nine musicians at the first rehearsal to forty-five by spring—reflecting the community’s enthusiasm for music-making.

In 2018, the ensemble proudly adopted its new name—the City of Lakes Community Band—to better reflect its identity and deep roots in Minneapolis. The updated name honored the city’s musical heritage and iconic nickname while strengthening the band’s commitment to its mission: to foster community connection, promote lifelong musicianship, and share music that uplifts, inspires, and unites. Anchored by its guiding philosophy, Community in Concert, the band continues to embody the belief that music is a powerful force for bringing people together.

Today, the City of Lakes Community Band is a vibrant ensemble of more than ninety musicians from across the Twin Cities, representing a wide range of musical backgrounds, ages, and interests. Washburn High School serves as the band’s rehearsal home and the venue for several concerts each fall, winter, and spring. In the summer, CLCB performs across the metro—primarily in parks—offering free concerts that feature classical and contemporary concert band works, marches, jazz, show tunes, and more. Year-round, the band remains dedicated to creating welcoming musical experiences for audiences and performers alike, continuing its long tradition of building Community in Concert.