Who We Are:
The Heartland Concert Band ("the Band") is based in Joplin, Missouri. The mission of the Band is to provide an outlet for musical expression for musicians from communities in Southwest Missouri, Southeast Kansas, Northeast Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas. The Band is an all volunteer organization who are dedicated to performing music in the tradition of a community concert band ensemble. The Band does not charge for our performances as all support is through generous donations. We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Membership is open to any adult and teenage players capable of reading musical notation. No audition is required. The Band normally maintains around 40-50 members.
The Heartland Concert Band performance season goes from August to July. We rehearse most Thursday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 at the Memorial Education Center (825 S. Pearl Ave. in Joplin), with breaks in July & August and then again in January. A typical performance calendar for the Band will involve a fall concert, Veterans Day observance, Christmas and holiday events, a spring concert, Memorial Day observance, and Fourth of July celebrations. We perform a wide range of compositions and we strive to find a balance in the difficulty levels of our pieces so all players are challenged. Our members range in ages and experience from high schoolers, to college music professors and local band directors, with many area business employees and retirees who all enjoy practicing and performing large concert band music.
The Heartland Concert Band plays a wide range of difficulty levels so all players can be challenged. We typically we don't play anything lower than grade 2 or higher than grade 5 concert band works. The skill level of our players range from High School to College Music Professor.
Membership:
Musicians seeking membership in the Heartland Concert Band should at least play at the High School level. There is no formal audition for membership. However, members may be asked to play for the conductor to determine proficiency.
Seating, and part assignment is determined by the sections themselves under advisement of their more skilled players and is subject to change based on the needs of the ensemble and discretion of the conductor.
Just come over and check us out
Joplin Schools Administration Building
825 Pearl Ave, Joplin, MO 64801
WEST DOOR
We rehearse on the auditorium stage. Visitors Welcome
See Us Play . . . .
Hear Us Play . . . .
Donate Instruments
Garage, Closets? Do you have instruments just sitting around? We will pick them up. Some we use, others we donate , some we loan and some we sell. Any money from the sale of instruments goes to our general fund.
We are a non-profit organization.
Support Us
Receive a full season of advertising in our Programs, Web Sites, Events, Social Medias.
Announcements and News
Thursday October 10th election for band officers.
Upcoming Performances
We Love to Perform
How To Book Us:
Where we play - Heartland Concert Band plays in the 4-State area around Joplin, MO.
When - Since this is a volunteer group, availability is at the mercy of the membership as a whole. The more advanced notice you give us the easier it is for us to say ‘YES!’
Events - Holidays, Celebrations, Commemorations, etc . . .
Size of group - We currently have the capacity to perform with our full ensemble of 40-50 persons (approximately). Smaller ensembles availability varies.
Pricing - We have been a donation only band. We use the donations for Music,, equipment, and instruments that will help expand the repertoire of compositions we are able to perform. Funds are also used to clean and repair donated instruments to enable us to loan to local high schools.
Directors
Conductor :
Aaron Power
Aaron Power has been involved in music making his entire life, and is having a great time as conductor of the Heartland Concert Band.
A native of El Reno, Oklahoma, he is a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, holding a BME in Instrumental Music with an emphasis in saxophone performance. He previously served as Band Director for the Drumright Public Schools in Oklahoma and is currently employed by the Joplin School District.
In 2017, Aaron performed Bernhard Heiden's Diversion for Saxophone & Band as soloist with the HCB. He was recently appointed by Conductor Emeritus Vicki Mays as Conductor for the band's 2021-2022 season.
Aaron lives in Joplin with his wife Donna and their three sons.
Conductor Emeritus :
Vicki Mays
Joplin native Vicki Mays was well-known to area audiences. A graduate of Missouri Southern State University, she enjoyed a long and varied career as a music educator throughout the 4-State region and beyond, including work in the Columbus, KS schools, the Jasper & Carl Junction, MO Schools, and Seattle, Washington.
During the 1990's, Vicki was assistant conductor of the Carthage Community Band, and was tapped as Conductor of the HCB in 2003. Under her tenure the band grew both in size and in musical maturity, performing for hundreds of persons annually for nearly two decades.
Vicki passed away in March, 2020 after a brief illness. She is survived by her husband Lyle.
Heartand Concert Band Board Members
Director - Aaron Power
President - Jud Fisher
Vice-President - Christina Hamilton
Secretary - Martin Williams
Treasurer - Tim Meadows
Board Member - Amber Dole
Board Member - Keith Garber
Board Member - Rick Castor
Band Humor
Practice
What you should have in your folder corresponding concerts as of 2/1/24
For February 22nd Concert:
First Suite in Eb
Legends in the Mist
Nimrod
Florentiner March
Man of La Mancha
The Green Cathedral
Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron
For CBOP in June:
Suite of Old American Dances
Salute to Bob Hope
John Williams in Concert
Cluster Fluster Bluster March
The Eighties
Riders for the Flag
The Mandalorian
The Heartland Concert Band is a 501(c )(3) tax exempt organization. A copy of the IRS tax exempt authorization letter can be provided upon request.