Jacinda Bouton, music director, conducts the Denver Concert Band at a September concert.
By Clarissa Crozier
After 50 years of entertaining audiences from their home in downtown Denver, the Denver Concert Band has relocated to Lone Tree Arts Center. They perform at the 500-seat Main Stage Theater at 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree.
The DCB, which originated in 1961 with a group of 16 musicians, now boasts 90.
“The musicians come from all over the metro area to practice every Monday evening and to perform over 20 concerts a year,” said Jacinda Bouton, music director.
The musicians, who represent a wide variety of occupations and backgrounds, are all volunteers. The band is self-governing and depends on contributions and dues for financial support. Only the director and associate director are reimbursed for their services.
Jacinda Bouton, music director of the Denver Concert Band
The move was prompted by changes in the downtown community and a need to attract a wider audience.
“The relocation to Lone Tree brings with it a community that is very supportive of the arts who have eagerly welcomed the Denver Concert Band and have already shown this support through audience support that is over double the attendance of our concerts at the previous venue,” Bouton said.
DCB previously performed from Central Presbyterian Church, two blocks north of the Capitol.
“The most important benefit of the new venue is the performance and rehearsal spaces at the Lone Tree Arts Center, which are not only beautiful, but the acoustics are among the best in country,” Bouton said.
Bouton, with 15 years as music director, also mentioned free parking in Lone Tree as a plus for concertgoers.
Concert season
The formal concert season for the band runs late August through May and all programs are family friendly with lighter selections that include marches, Broadway show tunes and movie hits. Rehearsals are held Monday evenings.
The Winter Concert features a guest artist who is a professional musician from the Colorado Symphony, a local university or an internationally known musician.
Since 1977, the DCB has dedicated its spring concert to a Young Artist Competition and awards $2,000 to the winner along with the opportunity to perform as a soloist with the band during that concert.
In the summer, DCB performs concerts-in-the-park throughout the Denver area and Colorado region.
“In addition to our regular concerts, the DCB has two strong education programs designed to inspire and promote instrumental music in future generations,” Bouton said. “The first program is the Show and Tell Band, whose 17 members are either retired or enjoy a flexible work schedule.
“The Show and Tell Band travels to elementary and middle schools throughout the metropolitan area. In addition to playing together, each band member talks about his or her instrument, demonstrates its use and plays a short piece.”
DCB supports the development of teen musicians through the Young Artist Competition and Concert each spring.
“The competition is open to all area high school seniors who play a band instrument,” Bouton said. “The winner of this competition will perform as a featured
soloist in our April concert and receive a $2,000 scholarship.”
Some special performances have been the result of a connection to the Association of Concert Bands, an international organization that fosters community bands.
This connection is achieved through band member Deidre Nalven of Englewood who serves as an appointed officer in ACB. Nalven, who has 33 years of playing the clarinet in the DCB, encouraged the DCB to audition for a performance slot at ACB conventions. They earned spots in Tempe, Ariz.; Fairfax, Va.; and Houston, Texas.
Nalven is also in charge of bringing world-renowned conductors, composers and soloists to perform with DCB.
“By working together, we have enjoyed three European musical tours, kept our band financially solvent and are constantly working to improve our artistic talents,” Nalven said. “We are able to create beautiful music that is our passion.”
The 90-member Denver Concert Band performs at Lone Tree Arts Center in September 2011. The 50-year-old band recently relocated from downtown Denver to Lone Tree. Photos courtesy of Don Casper Photography
Upcoming Feb. 11 concert
The next performance of DCB is the Guest Artist Concert on Feb. 11. The concert will feature Joseph Martin, associate professor of trombone and director of the Wind Ensemble at University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music.
Martin will perform the T-Bone Concerto by Johan de Meij, a virtuosic work for trombone and band. Denver Concert Band will perform music from around the world, including Symphonic Music from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein, Puszta by Jan Van der Roost, Rhosymedre by Ralph Vaughn Williams and First Suite in Eb by Gustav Holst.
Performance schedule and information on the band can be found at www.DenverConcertBand.org. Tickets run $10 for adults and $5 for those under 16 and can be purchased at the box office or from www.LoneTreeArtsCenter.org.
