About Us

The City of Lakes Community Band (which bore the name “Calhoun-Isles Community Band” until 2018) was founded in 1981 by a group of musicians that wanted to start a concert band made up of people from their community. The impetus for the group came when Bill Scripps agreed to be the band's first director. He approached West High School in Uptown, Minneapolis to request a space for a new community band to rehearse. The school agreed and when the administration learned he was a band director, they hired him to lead their band program as well.

The first rehearsal was held in September 1981 and by December the band performed its first concert in the West High School auditorium. The first program included Stars and Stripes Forever and Manhattan Beach by John Phillip Sousa, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring by J.S. Bach, Suite of Angels by C. R. Spinney, Winter Wonderland by D. Smith, Nutcracker Suite Selections by Peter Tschaikovsky, and the third movement of the First Suite in E Flat by Gustav Holst.

A man in a black jacket and button down shirt stands with arms extended in front of a group of musicians. The perspective shows the music on the musicians' stands.

Rebecca Jean Lawrence Photography

The perspective is from the back of a large concert band. There is a cymbal prominently in the left corner of the image, and we see the back of musicians' heads. We also see their music on their stands.

Rebecca Jean Lawrence Photography

In the Band’s first season, it grew from the 9 members who were present at the first rehearsal to 45. Today, the band is comprised of over 90 members from around the Twin Cities with a wide range of musical backgrounds and interests.

The City of Lakes Community Band's current home is Justice Page Middle School. The school serves as the band's rehearsal space and the location for a number of concerts in the fall, winter and spring. During the summer, the Band performs throughout the metro region and primarily in public parks. Year round, CLCB plays classical and modern concert band music, marches, jazz and show tunes.

The City of Lakes Community Band also has two break-out groups comprised of members from the concert band. The Dixieland Band and the Calico Jazz Combo play at CLCB concerts and other events around the Twin Cities.

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