The Owensboro Community Band is tuning up for another season of music and camaraderie, with rehearsals beginning this Sunday. Open to anyone with instrumental experience, the group invites musicians of all ages to join in reviving a longtime local tradition that celebrates community, patriotism, and the joy of performing together.
For decades, the Community Band has filled local stages with the sounds of marches, seasonal medleys, and holiday favorites, honoring veterans, entertaining senior citizens, and adding musical spirit to community gatherings. This year, that tradition continues under the direction of Mike Clark, a retired Daviess County High School band director whose musical career has spanned more than five decades across the region.
Clark said the Owensboro Community Band was originally created years ago as a space where local musicians could come together simply for the love of playing.
“It’s been a very good band throughout the years,” Clark said. “We’re trying to bring it back this year with a little surge in numbers and quality. We’re just looking forward to getting off to a good start on October 26.”
The first rehearsal is this Sunday from 2:30-4 p.m. on the second floor of the Owensboro Museum of Science and History, where the group will meet weekly through November. After five rehearsals, they’ll perform two public concerts — one on Nov. 29 at First Baptist Church and another on Dec. 6 at the Museum.
Clark said the band welcomes anyone who has played an instrument, whether recently or decades ago. He said the age range of participants is wide, with some in their 70s and others still in high school.
“I’m 74,” Clark said. “We’ll have some folks my age, and then a few younger students who want to get a little extra lift out of their playing time. But most are adults who played years ago and have rediscovered how much they love it.”
In addition to the full-band concerts, Clark hopes to form a few smaller ensembles, such as a saxophone quartet or brass quintet, to perform holiday music at local nursing homes and community events.
“The Community Band has always had a tradition of playing at community functions and helping out in that way,” he said.
After the holiday season, the band will take a short break before returning in the spring for another round of performances centered on patriotic celebrations such as Memorial Day and Flag Day.
For Clark, the Owensboro Community Band offers more than just music. It provides a place for connection and shared purpose.
“It’s a venue for people to use their talent and to be part of a group that’s similar to one that probably meant a whole lot to them in their teenage and young adult life,” he said. “We have everything from professional music educators to people who play in church orchestras, to folks who are just rediscovering that joy again. It’s really something special.”
