Looking for a Place to Play in DC

[John Caves]

Hi Everyone.

I've been watching TubeNet for many years but have not participated in a loooong time; I think it's time to get back in. My wife and I have moved to the Bethesda MD area from Houston TX so she can persue an exciting employment
opportunity. While in Houston, I was the tubist with the Houston Civic Orchestra, played bass guitar in our church's praise band and operated a piano tuning business. Prior to Houston, I performed with many concert bands, orchestras and brass groups (legitimate music) and polka/dance bands (illegitimate music) in my home state of Wisconsin.

Can anyone provide contacts for concert bands, orchestras or brass ensemble that I may be able to "get my foot in the door" with in the Bethesda/DC area?

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

John Caves

[Dean E]

Hi John,

Here are a few local community groups in the District, Maryland, and Virginia.

Also, there are a couple of other groups primarily comprised of members and former members of the service bands:
[edited]
National Concert Band of America
http://www.nationalconcertband.org/" target="_blank" target="_blank

Virginia Grand Military Band
http://www.vgmb.com/Performers.html" target="_blank" target="_blank
[end edit]
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Alexandria Citizens Band
Vienna Community Band
Prince William Community Band
Rockville Concert Band
Kings Park Concert Band
Olney Community Band
Mount Vernon Community Band
Loudon Symphonic Winds
Falls Church Concert Band
The City of Fairfax Band
Capital City Symphony
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Rusty Musician concerts)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 03579.html" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
Prince William Symphony Orchestra

[Mark E. Chachich]

Community Band and Orchestra Home Pages:

http://www.boerger.org/c-m/commother.shtml" target="_blank" target="_blank"

enjoy,
Mark

[sinfonian]

If you want to march there is the Baltimore Ravens Marching Band for adults.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/Ravensto ... avens.aspx

I wish all the NFL teams had such a band program.

[bort]

If you want to march there is the Baltimore Ravens Marching Band for adults.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/Ravensto ... avens.aspx

I wish all the NFL teams had such a band program.

I used to live nearly in the shadow of the Ravens' stadium, and I was not once interested in joining. All the "fun" of marching band and none of the *fun* of football (or playing the tuba).

[John Caves]

Thanks for everyone's responses. EVEN if I were many, many years younger, I couldn't be talked into a marching band. Too much like work for this tuba player. (I have a preference for sit-down gigs.)

Dean, are you a member of any groups you listed? I noticed a couple that had a Dean E listed.

Thanks to everyone.

[Dean E]

. . . . Dean, are you a member of any groups you listed? I noticed a couple that had a Dean E listed. . . .

Yes, I belong to Vienna, Alexandria Citizens' Band, King's Park, and the Reston Community Orchestra.

Alexandria Citizens' Band could use another tuba.

Also, let me recommend to you the four summer sight reading sessions held jointly by the Reston and McLean orchestras. We're sure to have some challenging readings in the sharp keys, including some bassoon and cello parts.
http://restoncommunityorchestra.org/concert6-10.htm" target="_blank

[Rev Rob]

Also, check out the Maryland Symphony out of Annapolis.

[Rick Denney]

Alexandria Citizens Band
Vienna Community Band
Prince William Community Band
Rockville Concert Band
Kings Park Concert Band
Olney Community Band
Mount Vernon Community Band
Loudoun Symphonic Winds (corrected spelling)
Falls Church Concert Band
The City of Fairfax Band
Capital City Symphony
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Rusty Musician concerts)
Prince William Symphony Orchestra

Not all of these are easy to get to from Bethesda, even for rehearsals starting at 7:30. Houston traffic is bad (I know; I grew up there), but northern Virginia and the Beltway through Maryland around to about College Park is not to be believed. Pay attention to the map and test the drive at least once before making any commitments.

There are several of us in the vicinity. I play in the Loudoun Symphonic Winds, and Steve Harsch (who may be lurking) plays in a band in southwestern Baltimore area around Catonsville, as I recall. He is a refugee from Austin, having moved here a couple of years ago (we played in the Austin Symphonic Band together in the deep past). Jack Tilbury, formerly of the Army Band and an occasional lurker here, is now having fun in the Prince William Community Band, in Woodbridge. Loudoun County and Woodbridge, at least, would be quite a hike from Bethesda, especially during traffic peaks, which is most of the day around that part of the Beltway. Rob Ross, who posts here occasionally, plays in (at least) the National Concert Band, which is based in Alexandria. He may still also be playing in the Capital City Symphony, if I'm remembering that correctly from a conversation some years ago.

To give you an idea of distances, I subbed with the National Concert Band a couple of years ago, and the drive from my office in Sterling (near Dulles Airport) to Alexandria was 90 minutes, and that was going against the peak traffic flow.

Lots of good tuba players around here and lots of bands to play in. Welcome to the area!

Rick "hoping you'll come and meet everyone at the Army Tuba Conference next January" Denney

[bort]

Steve Harsch (who may be lurking) plays in a band in southwestern Baltimore area around Catonsville, as I recall. He is a refugee from Austin, having moved here a couple of years ago (we played in the Austin Symphonic Band together in the deep past).

Hey, I know Steve! We played together in a band in Southeastern B'more (Essex)...maybe that's what you're thinking about? I grew up next town over from Catonsville, and I'm not aware of anything there. Not unless something started at UMBC or something.

northern Virginia and the Beltway through Maryland around to about College Park is not to be believed.

So true. I went to Univ. of MD, and man that drive is just awful. I mean it's certainly not any better here in NYC, but still...

[Dean E]

Another performing group is Civil Air Patrol, Maryland Wing, officially known as the "Chesapeake Bay Senior Squadron." The director may be able to put you in touch with other ad hoc ensembles that provide patriotic, troop supporting musical support.

National Naval Medical Center Auditorium
8901 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20889
Meeting schedule

Saturdays 1030–1600
Contact Information
* * *
Maryland Wing Band
Maj George Carroll, Music Director

http://www.mdcap.org/index.cfm?fuseacti ... w&unitID=6" target="_blank" target="_blank

[euphdude]

Hi John,

I also live in Bethesda, and both of the groups I play in would welcome you....and they are both a relatively easy drive from Bethesda. Send me an email at euphdude@gmail.com" target="_blank.

The groups I play in are the Rockville Brass Band and the Rockville Concert Band.

http://www.rockvillebrassband.org/" target="_blank
http://www.rocknet.org/leisure/band/" target="_blank

thanks,
Scott