Southshore Concert Band “Christmas Grace” Concert 2022
Submitted by Jan Street, Public Relations Chairperson, Southshore Concert Band
Southshore Concert Band will be celebrating the holiday season during their performance on Sunday, December 11, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. on the Mendel Center Mainstage at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor. This concert, entitled “Christmas Grace”, will feature many familiar holiday favorites sure to boost your holiday spirits and bring the joy of Christmas into your heart.
The concert will open with An American Christmas, a medley of “Jingle Bells” and “Toy Soldiers” mixed with a little of Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.” The band will perform A Fireside Christmas, an arrangement by Sammy Nestico, featuring “Rudolph”, ” Frosty” and “The Christmas Song”. The program will also include a Mannheim Steamroller arrangement of Faeries (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies) by Chip Davis, Carol of the Drum arranged by Floyd E. Werle of the U.S. Air Force Band, Wassail, Movement I from the Vaughan Williams Suite and A Christmas Ceblebration (of Songs and Carols) by Alfred Reed.
This Southshore Concert Band performance, sponsored in part by the Frederick S. Upton Foundation and 1st Source Bank, is free to the public.
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 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.
Contact: Dale Reuss, Director
Lake Michigan College, Benton Harbor, MI
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