Leadership comes in many forms…

For the first twenty years, the BBC was under the baton of Dr. Paul Droste. Tim Jameson was selected as Director in July 2005 after Dr. Droste’s retirement in December 2004.Adjacent photo: Passing the baton (L-R) Dr. Paul Droste, Tim Jameson, Tony Zilincik and Les Susi.

Tim Jameson fulfilled the role of BBC Director until his resignation in February 2010. Mr. Jameson’s last concert with the BBC was the God & Country Concert on Saturday, March 13, 2010, and he was presented a plaque acknowledging his nearly five years of service — taking the BBC through its Silver Gala and into the next quarter century.

In March 2010, Brian Stevens returned to the BBC to assume the role of Interim Music Director through Summer 2010, and he was appointed as permanent Director commencing with the 2010-2011 Season.  The BBC is most excited about this new journey ahead with an old friend on the podium.  The BBC will also continue to bring prestigious talent as Guest Artist Conductors, such as James Curnow.

Leadership in this organization takes on many forms in addition to its Directors. The first twenty years found a trio of leaders driving most of the band operations to the awe and amazement of everyone: Dr. Droste and fellow emeritus members Les Susi (Associate Director) and Ray Spillman. Charter members Additionally, band members take on additional roles beside that of musician – such as Band Chairperson. Lisa Galvin functioned as chairperson for many years and was followed in this role by Christy Farnbauch. With Lisa’s departure which enabled her to devote time to other ventures while remaining our Principal Horn. In like manner, after serving in the role for many years, Christy returned to her role in the cornet section and has had more time to devote to her own business. The role of band chairperson is now assumed by Miranda Burke who leads the BBC Executive Committee.

With Dr. Droste’s retirement and that of other active members, a new Board of Directors now helps provide support in meaningful ways. The operational functions of the the band continue to thrive through the leadership of others to include a business manager, operations manager, marketing and communication coordinator, performance coordinator, BBCEO chairperson (educational outreach) and more.  See Contact Us.

The BBC is all-volunteer and is a 501(c)3 Non Profit organization sustained financially through donations and other funding.  See Support Us.

Performances – where we’ve appeared…

The Brass Band of Columbus averages over twenty appearances per year at indoor and outdoor venues, community events, and church services. Major appearances include The Mid West Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, The Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky, the Ohio Music Educators Association Conference, and state, national, and international conferences of musical organizations.  In 2000, the BBC performed as a part of the British Open Brass Band competition in Birmingham, England.

Following is an alphabetic list of venues where the BBC has performed over the past years:

• Ascension Lutheran Church, Columbus, OH
• Capital Theater, Columbus, OH
• Cedarville University, Cedarville, OH
• Chatauqua Institution, NY
• The Church at Mill Run, Hilliard, OH – multiple concerts
• Church of the Master, Westerville, OH
• Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH; OMEA Conference
• Columbus Maennerchor, Columbus, OH
• Delphos Gazebo, Delphos, OH
• Dublin Coffman HS (Educational Outreach Series) Dublin, OH
• Dublin Jerome HS, Dublin, OH
• Dublin Irish Festival, Dublin, OH
• Friendship Village, Westerville, OH
• Galion Theater, Galion, OH
• Grace Brethren Church, Worthington, OH
• Granville Park Series, Granville, OH
• Great American Brass Band Festival, Danville, KY
• Grove City Park Series, Grove City, OH
• Hannaford Brass Festival, Toronto, CAN (x1)
• Heath HS (Educational Outreach Series), Heath, OH
• Hilliard Darby HS (Educational Outreach Series). Hilliard, OH
• Hilliard Davidson HS (Educational Outreach Series), Hilliard, OH
• Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Upper Arlington, OH
• Hoover Auditorium, Lakeside, OH
• Hyatt Regency Columbus (International Trumpet Guild), Columbus, OH
• Indian Run Church United Methodist Church, Dublin, OH
• Infirmary Mound Park, Granville, OH
• Jeffery Mansion, Bexley, OH
• Lancaster Campground, Lancaster, OH
• Lincoln Theatre, Columbus, OH
• Linworth United Methodist Church, Dublin, OH
• Marion Palace Theater, Marion, OH
• Masonic Auditorium, Dayton, OH
• Maumee Community Arts Center, Maumee, OH; Joint event with Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps
• Mees Hall, Capital University, Columbus, OH
• Mershon Auditorium, Columbus, OH
• North American Brass Band Association Competition, Louisville, KY
• Northwest Christian Church, Upper Arlington, OH
• Ohio Brass Arts Festival, Westerville, OH
• Ohio Brass Arts Festival, OSU Weigel Hall
• Ohio Village, Columbus, OH
• Park of Roses Gazebo, Columbus, OH
• Powell United Methodist Church, Powell, OH
• Prince of Peace Lutheran, Dublin, OH
• Scioto Park, Dublin, OH
• Seacrest Auditorium, Zanesville, OH
• Southern Theater; Columbus, OH
• St. John Church, Columbus, OH
• The McCoy Center for the Performing Arts, New Albany, OH
• Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Bexley, OH
• Tuttle Crossing Mall, Dublin, OH
• Weigel Hall Auditorium, OSU, Columbus, OH
• Westerville Central HS (Educational Outreach Series), Westerville, OH
• Worthington Lutheran Church, Worthington, OH

Competition – True Champions…

The Brass Band of Columbus is a member of the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA), an organization devoted to promoting brass bands and brass banding in North America.  Each year NABBA hosts a competition for its member bands.  At these contests, a highly-esteemed panel of international judges critiques bands in five different performance divisions, called sections.

The BBC competes in the top division, the Championship Section, and has been awarded First Place ten times, most recently in April 2006.  No other North American brass band approaches this record of excellence.  The BBC hosted the contest in 1987, 1992, and 1996.

In the adjacent photo, Lisa Galvin, former BBC band chairperson accepts the First Place Championship Section banner at NABBA, April 2006.

Our next accomplishment occured in April 2009 when the BBC made its inaugural appearance at the Hannaford Festival of Brass (sponsored by famed professional Hannaford Silver Street Band) in Toronto, Canada in lieu of a NABBA appearance.  Because of the BBC reputation for excellence, the festival organizers waived the usual requirement to perform exhibition only the first year of participation.  Not only did the BBC deliver an outstanding, crowd-pleasing performance – we won!  Yes, we won the famed Hannaford Cup and brought it home to Columbus – the first time this very prestigious award has ventured south of the Canadian border.

Recordings – an audio legacy of musical excellence…

The BBC’s first commercial recording, Lead On!, was released in 1994.  Its second recording is called The Champions and was released in 1998.  American’s We was released in 2000 in conjunction with the band’s trip to England.  Brass Band Christmaswas released in 2001. The band’s recording entitled Gifted Leadership – An Anthology of March Masterpieces, was dedicated to the band’s founder Dr. Paul Droste and was released in 2006.

The BBC will soon release a new CD.

The BBC has been joined over the years by guest performers and conductors of local, national and international acclaim. Guest performers have included Øystein Baadsvik (tuba), Mark Baker (vocalist), William Broughton (trombone), Nicholas Childs (euphonium), Robert Childs (euphonium), John Harner (trumpet), Chris Jaudes (trumpet), Lars-Otto Ljungholm (cornet), Katrina Marzella (baritone), Cabot Rea (vocalist), Rob Richardson (baritone), Mark Ridenour (Trumpet), Helen Tyler (baritone),  and Philip Smith (trumpet, cornet), Aaron VanderWeele (euphonium)

Guest conductors include Geoffrey Brand, Nick Childs, Steven Cobb, James Curnow, Jack Evans, William Himes, Ron Holz, Craig Kirchoff, Donald McGinnis, Phillip Sparkes, Ron Waiksnoris, and Jon Woods.

View the complete list and more details.

Outreach – we give back to our community and support music education…

The Brass Band of Columbus Educational Outreach (BBCEO) program exists to:

1. Advocate the importance of music education in the schools.
2. Foster a deep appreciation for quality music-making in a live setting.
3. Promote music as a lifetime experience.

This exciting program includes our Shared Concert Series and the Young Artist Competition.

Support – as an all volunteer non-profit, we need your support to sustain our mission…

Financial support for the Brass Band of Columbus comes from concert fees and the kind donations of individuals and families.

The BBC also receives annual grants or generous financial gifts from:

• The Community Arts Fund of The Columbus Foundation
• The Ohio Arts Council

In-kind support is received from:

• Buckeye Brass & Winds
• Creative By Clark
• Dublin City Schools

Learn more about our Corporate Supporters and how you can help us…