Tickets are not needed as our concerts are always free and open to the public.

We are a not-for-profit, all volunteer concert band comprised of approximately 80 members drawn from many communities in and around the Fox River Valley area.

Our current director, Colin Holman, has been with the band since January of 1993. Colin has a Masters in Instrumental Conducting and a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Kansas and his undergraduate degree from the University of Birmingham in England. He is a professional conductor and also directs the Chicago Brass Band and several other musical groups in the area.

The Fox Valley Concert Band had its first rehearsal in January of 1983 as an outgrowth of an ensemble started in 1981, and has grown from a core group of charter members to our current size. Because our mission is both to provide the residents of the Fox Valley with free, quality concert band music year-round and to provide an opportunity to perform to those people who would like to exercise their musical talents, there is no charge to the public for our concerts. The band is supported by corporate and personal donations, as well as by the City of St. Charles, Waubonsee Community College and the Illinois Arts Council.

The band has an audition policy to ensure a standard of musical competence. We are growing the organization and will allow you to play with the ensemble to "try us out" for a few weeks before asking you to audition. Section leaders will supply more information about auditions, but most will be asked to play from the current IMEA scale sheet: Click here for a link (6.9 MB pdf file). While all interested musicians are encouraged to audition for membership, there are always some sections of the band that are more in need than others. Our most pressing current needs can be found on the front page of the fvcb.org website.

We rehearse every Tuesday night from 7:30 to 9:30 PM in the Geneva High School band room. The band takes a 4 to 5 week break in August every year.

The musical fare for our six to eight summer concerts in area parks and for festivals is lighter and includes marches, show tunes and some light classical works. The fall, winter and spring concerts are more challenging musically and include both modern and period works. The concerts generally scheduled are:
Fall Concert: First or second Sunday in November, Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles

Christmas Concerts: First Saturday in December, Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles
Second Tuesday in December, The Holmstad in Batavia

Winter Concert: First or second Sunday in March, Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles

Spring Concert: First or second Sunday in May, Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles

You will need to contact the current board president of the band to find out availability and other pertinent information. Brian Liska is our current president and can be contacted by e-mail at president@fvcb.org.

Fox Valley Concert Band
PO Box 1422
St. Charles, IL 60174

The mission of the Fox Valley Concert Band is two-fold:
1. To provide opportunities for qualified area musicians to grow in musical excellence through participation in an organization dedicated to that aim.
2. To provide area residents continuing opportunity for exposure to the best in the concert band repertoire.

The Fox Valley Concert Band was founded in January, 1983 as an outgrowth of a smaller ensemble sponsored by the St. Charles Park District. It was agreed that the Fox Valley area needed and would support a true concert band, and the present band came into existence because of the diligent efforts of Paul Siegert and others.

From the outset it was agreed that the band would operate on a year-round basis, contrary to the practice of most community bands. Also, it was chartered as a totally volunteer organization with the exception of a paid musical director. Support was immediately forthcoming from individuals, businesses and other groups throughout the Fox Valley. In addition, the band has received grants from the cities of St. Charles and Geneva, the United Arts Board of the Fox Valley and the Illinois Arts Council. Since the end of the first year, the band has operated in the black and continues to be financially sound.

The first rehearsal was held in the band room at St. Charles High School on January 11, 1983 under the baton of Bruce R. Patzer, who had served as conductor of the earlier Park District band. The initial 1983 roster showed 40 members. The first concert was held in the Norris Center, St. Charles, in May of 1983.

In January, 1984 Richard K. Radek, formerly principal trumpet, was selected as Conductor. Mr. Patzer assumed the important role of principal percussionist and remained with the band for two more years in that position. Under the leadership of Mr. Radek the band became incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in the State of Illinois and has grown both in numbers and in musical quality.

Frank V. Bibb was appointed Conductor in January, 1988. He held the position through mid-1989 and, after a series of guest conductors, was ultimately replaced by Craig Roselieb in mid-1990. The current conductor of the band, Dr. Colin Holman, took over in January, 1993. The present membership consists of over 75 musicians, is well-balanced musically and draws from more than 30 communities in the suburbs of Chicago. The largest numbers come from St. Charles, Naperville, Aurora and Elgin. Members come from all walks of life and some perform professionally.

Each year the band performs formal Fall, Winter and Spring concerts, plus special Christmas concerts. In addition, the band stages a regular summer concert series performed in various area communities.