Southshore Concert Band – Annual Holiday Concert

LMC, Benton Harbor, MI – December 12, 2021

Submitted by Jan Street, Public Relations Chairperson, Southshore Concert Band

“We need a little Christmas, right this very minute!” To brighten your holiday season, join conductor Dale L. Reuss and the Southshore Concert Band as they perform their annual holiday concert. “We Need a Little Christmas” will be presented on Sunday, December 12, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. on the Mendel Center Mainstage at Lake Michigan College, 2755 E. Napier Avenue in Benton Harbor. 

“For we need a little music, need a little laughter, need a little singing ringing through the rafter.” The concert promises all that and more as the band performs favorite holiday medleys and melodies featured in March of the Toys/Toyland arranged by Tom Wallace, Overture to Miracle on 34^th Street arranged by Johnnie Vinson, A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson, Cowboy Christmas by Jeff Simmons and Christmas “Pop” Sing-A-Long led by band member Michael Vanden Tak.

Southshore Concert Band, performing for “the joy of music” during this thirtieth anniversary season, provides free concerts. This performance is sponsored in part by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation. For additional information email us at southshoreconcertband@gmail.com.

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About The Southshore Concert Band
The Southshore Concert Band was formed in 1992 to provide an opportunity for Berrien County adults to use their musical skills formed in high school and college on a volunteer basis for personal enjoyment. The band membership has grown over the years to include members from northern Indiana as well as other southwest Michigan counties. Membership includes a broad range of professional careers- retired band teachers, current teachers, engineers, accountants, social workers, computer consultants -all playing together to share their common passion for music.

The band provides free concerts at various locations in southwest Michigan during the year. Regular concerts include Winter and Spring concerts at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center. Additional concerts such as a Halloween Concert, Veteran’s Day Lest We Forget Concert, a collaborative concert with the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomie, and a Pops Concert add wide variety to our seasons. A “Big Band” was also created from members of the Southshore Concert Band to showcase sounds from a great musical time period. Annual summer concerts are played in local community parks and band shells.

The band has traveled to Boston and Washington D.C. to participate in the National Festival of the States concert series. It allowed the band to experience new performance venues and share a little bit of southwest Michigan with other parts of the country.

The Southshore Concert Band was founded and is conducted by Dale Reuss. The band has a membership of approximately 75 adults. Rehearsals are at Lake Michigan College every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. during the regular season (except holidays). We welcome new members! If you are interested in joining, please email Dale Reuss at southshoreconcertband@gmail.com. A brief audition will be required.

The organization achieved 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation status in February, 1999. The band relies on member’s dues, grants and public donations to fund its activities. The organization receives no public funds.