Did you know Manatee County has an all-volunteer concert band that performs four free musical shows each year?

If you’re like many people in the area, the answer is no.

The Manatee Community Concert Band (MCCB) is one of the Bradenton’s best-kept secrets, but we’re about to change that!

Whether you enjoy standard marches, classical, pop, swing, or Broadway and movie hits, the MCCB has got you covered!

Members of the band come from all walks of life. When combined together, they bring over 2,100 years of musical experience to the stage.

The band consists of a mix of folks who have played music their entire lives, including former band directors and music teachers, talented high school and college students, and retirees who have picked up their instruments again after another career.

They enjoy their fast-paced and demanding weekly rehearsals and thrive on delivering top-notch musical performances to their extremely appreciative audiences.

The MCCB is a 501(c)3 organization that provides four free community concerts throughout the year. This season, they’re celebrating the 125th anniversary of concert bands in Manatee County and the 50th anniversary of this present band. The first band was called “The Braidentown Brass Band” and it originated in 1894!

The 2019-2020 concert season includes four performances at the State College of Florida’s (SCF) Neel Performing Arts Center. This includes:

• Fall Concert: Saturday, November 9th at 7 p.m.
• Holiday Concert: Saturday, December 7th at 7 p.m.
• Winter Concert: Saturday, February 15th at 2 p.m.
•  Spring Concert: Saturday, April 4th at 7 p.m.

Mayor Wayne Poston has declared the first concert day, Saturday, November 9th, “The Manatee Community Concert Band Day.” A representative from Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office will be in attendance to read a statement from Congressman Buchanan and the band has prepared a special fanfare written by local composer Jonathan Schubert. This is going to be an exciting event that you won’t want to miss!

If you’re looking for a way to add some music and culture into your life, this is it! So mark your calendars and head on down for a musical performance that’s sure to impress. Be sure to arrive early, as these events are well-attended. In fact, each concert in the series attracts close to 500 fans!

You can keep up with everything that’s going on with the Manatee Community Concert Band and learn about future concert series by following MCCB on Facebook.