The Lakeland Civic Band has been a staple of the Lake County arts and culture scene for decades, and it has been under the baton of Director Chuck Frank for its entire history. As he looks to retire after this season, it is fitting that the fall concert honors that heritage in “A 40^th Anniversary Celebration – Part 1.” The concert, the first of three parts in the 2016-2017 civic concert line up, is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, at 4 p.m. in the college’s Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center, 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, 44094.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and $2 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the college’s box office on the date of the concert or in advance by calling 440.525.7134 or online through lakelandcc.edu/arts.

The Lakeland Civic Band

The Lakeland Civic Band was founded in 1977 by former Lakeland professor and music department chair, Chuck Frank, who has served as the conductor and music director for 40 years. The band provides an opportunity for instrumentalists from the area to perform band literature of the highest quality. Its membership is drawn from Lakeland students, talented high school players, school music teachers and directors, and community musicians who are selected by audition.

In addition to concerts at Lakeland each fall and spring, the band has performed at area high schools and universities; national, state and regional conferences and conventions; Severance Hall and the Chautauqua Institute. The band has invited a variety of illustrious guest conductors and artists and has featured several of its members as soloists. The Lakeland Civic Band received the Sudler Silver Scroll Award presented by the Sousa Foundation in recognition of musical excellence and service to the community.

For this fall concert, guests will be treated to both band standards and holiday classics. Dr. Constance Edwards, associate dean of the Arts and Sciences Division, will be the guest performer on bassoon and will be playing a concertino by Julius Fucík.

About Chuck Frank

Chuck Frank has been instrumental to the advancement of music education and performance for decades in Northeast Ohio. Trained at Ohio University and the University of Iowa, he played with the U.S. Army Ninth Division Band before becoming an educator. He taught at Wickliffe City Schools where he developed outstanding marching, concert and jazz bands that received state and national recognition. He moved on to teach at Lakeland Community College, where he not only started the civic band, but also organized the Lakeland Summer Music Camp and the Lakeland Jazz Festival, the oldest jazz festival in the state of Ohio. Along the way he served as an Ohio Music Education Association adjudicator as well as guest conductor and clinician throughout Ohio. He has also served in director positions at Rabbit Run Community Arts Association in Madison and the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby. Frank has garnered many awards for his service, including Jazz Educator of the Year, the Ohio University Alumni Achievement in Service Award, the Lakeland Community College Distinguished Service Award, and is a member of the Wickliffe Hall of Fame.

By: Colleen Marble, Marketing Communications Spcls