General Information

The band is open to all adult instrumental musicians in Summit County and the surrounding area. Membership in the band is offered to the community through the Hudson Community Education & Recreation program. Current and former members have come from Akron, Aurora, Bedford, Canal Fulton, Cleveland Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Glenwillow, Hudson, Kent, Macedonia, Maple Heights, North Royalton, Peninsula, Ravenna, Sagamore Hills, Stow, Streetsboro, Twinsburg and Willoughby. New members are always welcome. No audition is required

The band plays a wide variety of music including marches, overtures, transcriptions, contemporary, classical, instrumental/vocal solos, broadway show tunes, jazz, popular and patriotic music. We feature instrumental soloists, vocal soloists and ensembles from within the band membership.

Who We are

The Western Reserve Community Band, founded in 1997, has grown to over 50 members from 19 surrounding communities.  Our mission is to provide FREE musical entertainment and cultural enrichment to communities throughout northeastern Ohio.

Where We Play   

The ensemble has performed at Hattie Larlham, Hudson Works, Hudson Memorial Day Parade, Laurel Lake, The Elms, Hudson Ice Cream Social, Aurora Fourth of July Festival, Twinsburg Ice Cream Social, Twinsburg Concert on the Green, St. Barnabas Festival, Macedonia Longwood Park Festival, Stow Days Ice Cream Social, Stan Hywet Hall, Cuyahoga Falls River Square Amphitheatre, Hudson Fireworks, Hudson Pancake Breakfast, Hale Farms, Hudson Summer Music Festival, Blossom Family Days, St Joan Of Arc Summer Festival, Aurora Independence Village Concert, Vermilion’s Woollybear Festival, Chapel Hill Mall, Carols on the Green, Hudson Holiday Walk, St. Barnabas Christmas Concert, Hudson Library Holiday Concert and our annual Teddy Bear Picnic Children's Concert.

The Music  

The band plays a wide variety of music including marches, overtures, transcriptions, classical, contemporary, instrumental/vocal solos, Broadway show tunes, jazz, popular and patriotic music.  We feature instrumental soloists, vocal soloists and ensembles from within the band membership.

Rehearsals

The WRCB rehearses Thursday nights from 7:30p - 9:00p at Hudson Middle School located at 77 South Oviatt Street in Hudson, Ohio. Membership is open to all adults without audition. (Map)

Contact Us

For more information, contact Director Ralph Meyer at 330-656-5113 (wrcband@windstream.net)  or Band President Jim Virost at wrcband@windstream.net.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What does it cost to join WRCB?
A. Membership in the WRCB is offered through the Hudson Community Education and Recreation for an annual registration fee of $30.

Q. Will I have to audition?
A. No audition is required. We expect each member to realistically place her/himself within a section where she/he is comfortable and where she/he will make the most valuable contribution to the overall musical benefit of the band. Directors reserve the right to suggest and advise placement to adjust balance and technical requirements.

Q. Will I be required to attend every rehearsal?
A. When you officially join the WRCB you're making some commitments. You're committing to performance, rehearsals, continuity, etc. We are not asking for 100% and understand you have priorities outside of the group, but we do ask for some dependability. In order to function successfully and live up to our own standards, we need to be able to count on each and every member.

Q. How often and where does the band play?
A. Our year is divided into "two" seasons. From October through February we rehearse for our formal, indoor concert Spring concert held in March. After the Spring Concert, we rehearse for our summer performances which begin with the Memorial Day Parade in May and concludes with our annual Teddy Bear Picnic in September.

Q. How do I get to the concerts?
A. Members provide their own transportation to concert sites. Car-pooling is recommended. A bus may be chartered for distant performances.

Q. Do I have to bring a music stand?
A. Music stands are provided for regular rehearsals and concerts. It's also a good idea to have clothespins or other clips to keep your music from blowing away during outdoor concerts.

Q. What does the band wear in concert?
A. We wear one of our two "uniforms" to our performances. For summer, we wear our band shirts (or plain white short-sleeved shirt with a collar) with blue jeans or blue jean shorts, and sneakers. For our more "formal" concerts, women wear light-colored (white or cream) blouses with dark blue or black skirts and dark shoes. Men wear a light-colored shirt with dark blue or black pants and dark shoes.