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The History of the Stanly County Concert Band

Created in 2012

The Stanly County Concert Band came from an idea James Cotton and Stephanie Zunino had to give an opportunity for those who play concert band instruments to play again. In the spring of 2012 a group began to meet to create the band. The original members who became the board of directors were James Cotton, Stephanie Zunino, Tim Hedrick, Carmella Hedrick, Frank Poolos, Doug Craig, Walt Summerlin, and Dr. David Kirby from Pfeiffer University. Over the next six months, they toiled away to set up the band as a non-profit and decide the direction they wanted to go.

An Opportunity to Play Again

From the beginning, the Stanly County Concert Band was going to provide local musicians an opportunity to play, but also offer the citizens of Stanly County and the area free or low cost concerts at least twice a year. The band partnered with Pfeiffer University in order to use their facilities to practice and became the performance vehicle for the Pfeiffer University students. Unfortunately, David Kirby, who had been very instrumental in the Pfeiffer connection, passed away before the band was officially started, so the first concert in November of 2012 was dedicated in his memory.

A music sheet surrounded by band members
The band on the stage at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center

The Stanly County Agri-Civic Center

Since 2012, the band has grown to around 50 members and has performed two-to-four times every year. All early concerts were performed at Pfeiffer University in the chapel. In November of 2013, the Stanly County Concert Association sponsored the band’s first themed concert, A John Williams Tribute, at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center. The concert was a huge success and spurred the band’s move to performing almost exclusively at the Agri-Civic Center.

For the love of Music!

This project is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, the Stanly County Arts Council, and Uwharrie Bank.

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Stanly County Arts Council logo
Uwharrie Bank logo

Stanly County Concert Band