The Capital City Brass Band (CCBB) was founded in 2001 by James Schoensee, who organized a group of mid-Michigan brass musicians to perform brass band music. The band's performances stimulated interest in the musical community, and it began to attract growing numbers of interested youth and adult musicians. Since then, the band has given concerts at many venues across the state of Michigan for a variety of audiences, including performances in music festivals and has invited noted soloists and conductors to appear as guest artists. In 2008, under the leadership of Dr. Kenneth Kroesche, Professor of Music and Music Director of the award-winning Oakland University Brass Band, the CCBB joined with Oakland University to sponsor the university's first Festival of Brass.
As the band expanded and matured, its members determined to adopt the standard instrumentation of the classic British brass band, which enabled it to enter brass band competitions. 2011 marked the band's first appearance at a national competition, the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Championships, the nation's most prominent brass band competition for bands, brass ensembles and soloists. The CCBB won first prize the 3rd Section competition.
In 2012, the band first entered the US Open Brass Band Championships in Chicago, an unusual competition that grades participants' performances not only in terms of musical and artistic quality but also for entertainment and production value. Upon the CCBB's return in 2013, it was awarded third place, with Music Director William Waterman's arrangement of the historic "Carrollton March" winning first place in the category of "best new composition or arrangement.”
In 2014, the CCBB earned a second-place finish in NABBA's competitive 2nd Section. The CCBB's outstanding 10-piece brass ensemble took the top prize (as it had in 2013), as did the CCBB's excellent trombone quartet. This exceptionally strong showing at NABBA 2014 has been a source of great pride and national recognition for the CCBB and represents its crowning achievement to date. The band matched its second-place award at the 2015 NABBA Championships in Ft. Wayne, IN, and the 10-piece ensemble again captured top prize.
The CCBB competed in the 2015 North American Brass Band Association competition in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it placed second within the second section under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Kroesche. The group's ten piece ensemble also placed first in its division.
In April 2016, the CCBB competed in and won the second section of the 2016 North American Brass Band Association Competition in Fort Wayne, IN. The band performed the test piece by Gavin Higgins titled "Fanfares and Love Songs" and Philip Sparke's "The Saga of Haakon the Good" as their choice piece and was directed by Travis Scott.
In April 2019, the CCBB competed against nine other bands in the section section at NABBA in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and were crowned champions. The band performed exciting renditions of Coventry Variations by Bramwell Tovey and Olympus by Philip Harper, and was directed by Jim Otto. Capital City's ten piece ensemble also placed second.
Today the band continues to challenge itself musically and grows through each performance opportunity.
Contact us at:
Capital Brass Band
3738 Lansing Ave.
Jackson, MI 49202
[email protected]
As the band expanded and matured, its members determined to adopt the standard instrumentation of the classic British brass band, which enabled it to enter brass band competitions. 2011 marked the band's first appearance at a national competition, the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Championships, the nation's most prominent brass band competition for bands, brass ensembles and soloists. The CCBB won first prize the 3rd Section competition.
In 2012, the band first entered the US Open Brass Band Championships in Chicago, an unusual competition that grades participants' performances not only in terms of musical and artistic quality but also for entertainment and production value. Upon the CCBB's return in 2013, it was awarded third place, with Music Director William Waterman's arrangement of the historic "Carrollton March" winning first place in the category of "best new composition or arrangement.”
In 2014, the CCBB earned a second-place finish in NABBA's competitive 2nd Section. The CCBB's outstanding 10-piece brass ensemble took the top prize (as it had in 2013), as did the CCBB's excellent trombone quartet. This exceptionally strong showing at NABBA 2014 has been a source of great pride and national recognition for the CCBB and represents its crowning achievement to date. The band matched its second-place award at the 2015 NABBA Championships in Ft. Wayne, IN, and the 10-piece ensemble again captured top prize.
The CCBB competed in the 2015 North American Brass Band Association competition in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and it placed second within the second section under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Kroesche. The group's ten piece ensemble also placed first in its division.
In April 2016, the CCBB competed in and won the second section of the 2016 North American Brass Band Association Competition in Fort Wayne, IN. The band performed the test piece by Gavin Higgins titled "Fanfares and Love Songs" and Philip Sparke's "The Saga of Haakon the Good" as their choice piece and was directed by Travis Scott.
In April 2019, the CCBB competed against nine other bands in the section section at NABBA in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and were crowned champions. The band performed exciting renditions of Coventry Variations by Bramwell Tovey and Olympus by Philip Harper, and was directed by Jim Otto. Capital City's ten piece ensemble also placed second.
Today the band continues to challenge itself musically and grows through each performance opportunity.
Contact us at:
Capital Brass Band
3738 Lansing Ave.
Jackson, MI 49202
[email protected]