For over 30 years the Brass Band of Battle Creek has been thrilling audiences and inspiring students in Battle Creek, Calhoun County, and beyond with its unique blend of world-class musical artistry, tradition, and innovative collaboration. Rooted in the traditions of the British Brass Band movement and driven by the passion and tireless efforts of founders James and William Gray, the band has evolved into a present-day powerhouse known for its all-star roster and ability to expertly perform many styles of music.
Founding & History
In the fall of 1989 two local podiatrists, brothers Jim and Bill Gray, traveled to East Lansing to attend a performance by the Black Watch Band from Britain. Jim and Bill were involved with the Marshall, Michigan Community Band, and it was suggested that they perform a concert of British band music the following summer. Through contacts met during the brothers’ involvement with the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Jim was referred to Dr. Paul Droste, former band director at Ohio State University, as a potential conductor and source of material for the concert. Dr. Droste suggested that the Grays host a brass band seminar in Battle Creek as part of a program then sponsored by the Yamaha Corporation.
The Gray brothers became intrigued with the idea of the seminar and agreed to organize the event. The seminar took place at Kellogg Community College in August 1990. Many of the band members were Battle Creek area adult musicians and music educators, but the Grays also persuaded most of the brass faculty from Michigan State University to join in the effort. The resulting final concert was inspiring to both the audience and musicians. It was quickly decided that the experience was simply too good to happen only once, and the Brass Band of Battle Creek was born. The next concerts of the band were held in the auditorium at what is now Lakeview Middle School. Retired Michigan State University Director of Bands Kenneth Bloomquist was named the first permanent conductor, and the word started to spread among brass and percussion musicians of this fantastic group performing in Battle Creek. As the size of concert audiences grew, the BBBC moved to its current performance home at the beautiful and historic W.K. Kellogg Auditorium where it continues to perform for capacity audiences twice each year. Using the growing reputation of the Brass Band of Battle Creek, the Gray brothers leveraged their substantial promotional talent to persuade British euphonium superstar Steven Mead, United States Navy Band solo tubist Marty Erickson, and the late CMU euphonium professor Luis Maldonado to join the band. These musicians in turn recruited other top military band players and university faculty, including Carlton Rowe (principal cornet of the United States Marine Band) Woodrow English (principal cornet of the United States Army Band), Scott Hartman and Sam Pilafian (Empire Brass Quintet), and many others. As players spread the word internationally, fantastic players from Great Britain joined the group, including bass trombonist Mark “Frosty” Frost, tubist Les Neish, and tenor horn specialist Owen Farr. Today’s Brass Band of Battle Creek roster is a rotating “All Star” list of internationally renowned musicians, many of whom are recognized as the ”best of the best” in the world of brass and percussion.
Notable Performances
In addition to its regular concerts in Battle Creek, the BBBC has performed as a featured ensemble at many prestigious events. In 1998 the band was invited as the first band from the United States to perform as guest ensemble at the British National Brass Band Championships held in London’s Royal Albert Hall, part of a 10-day concert tour of the United Kingdom. In 2001 the band performed as part of the University Musical Society Series at the University of Michigan- the first performance ever by a brass band in the legendary 4,200-seat Hill Auditorium. In April of 2002 the band performed in Cincinnati as guest artist at the North American Brass Band Association Championships, becoming the only brass band to perform as a guest ensemble at both the North American and British National Brass Band Championships. The BBBC was selected by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as the featured performer at its 75th Anniversary celebration in August of 2005 where it was recognized as one of the Outstanding Grantees in the history of the Foundation. The band has presented premier performances of important new works for brass band by composers Philip Sparke, Ron Newman, Paul Murtha, William Bolcom, and Wycliffe Gordon. In December 2021 the Brass Band of Battle Creek performed for an audience of over 4,000 people as the finale concert for the 75th Anniversary Midwest Clinic at the McCormick Place in Chicago. The Midwest Clinic is the largest and most prestigious international music conference, drawing 18,000+ attendees that regularly include the world’s top musicians, conductors, teachers, and composers. In 2022 the band hosted New York Philharmonic Principal Trombonist Joseph Alessi for the premiere of Philip Sparke’s Tango for Joe and collaborated with the Gilmore Keyboard Festival to present Gilmore Young Artist Wei Luo in the first ever brass band performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
Conductor
Michael J. Garasi joined the Brass Band of Battle Creek as its Resident Conductor in 2013 after nine years with the award-winning Brass Band of Central Florida. His dynamic personality and consummate skill on the podium has been inspiring to audience members and has made him a respected colleague to the all-star cast of BBBC musicians. The leading British brass band publication, 4BarsRest, hailed him as “one of the most formidable and reputable conductors in the world of brass bands” and chose him as a nominee for the honor of “Conductor of the Year” in 2020.
Recordings
The BBBC has recorded and released 10 albums that are available on compact disc or digitally on Apple Music and Amazon. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, the band produced two video concert productions. Joyous Noise (September 2020) and A Salute To Our Frontline Heroes (May 2021) are available for viewing on the Brass Band of Battle Creek YouTube channel.