The Summer Beat Goes On for Community Band

Continuing the American tradition of summer family concerts, the East Lansing Kiwanis Community Band (ELKCB) has been rehearsing for its 2023 season.

“The goal of the free outdoor concerts, held at locations throughout East Lansing, is to entertain both the young and the young at heart,” according to a press release to ELi from Donna Heiner.

The band’s first concert is Thursday (July 20) behind Robert L. Greene Elementary School, 1811 Pinecrest Dr., East Lansing. This will be followed by a concert on July 27 at Hawk Nest Park, 3675 Whimbrel Way, north of the city off Chandler Road, and Aug. 1 at the Orchard Street Pump House, 368 Orchard St., in the downtown Bailey Neighborhood. All concerts begin at 7 p.m.

ELKCB brings together musicians from the Greater East Lansing area, including participants from all walks of life and a wide variety of ages and musical abilities.

Musicians of all ages rehearse with the East Lansing Kiwanis Community Band on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (Dylan Lees for ELi)

“The band is open to woodwind, brass or percussion musicians with a playing ability at the high school level,” the press release said.

Co-conductors of the band are Dave Larzelere and Matt Zerman. Larzelere, who is now director of bands for East Lansing High School, began his association with ELKCB “when he attended rehearsals as a very young trumpet player,” Heiner said in an email to ELi.

Larzelere is also the grandson of one of the band’s founders, Henry Larzelere, who played clarinet with the group for many years.

Dave Larzelere, who co-conducts the band with Matt Zerman, has a long history of involvement with the East Lansing Kiwanis Community Band. (Dylan Lees for ELi)

ELKCB originated in the late 1950s as a combined effort of the City of East Lansing and the East Lansing School District. Jerry Bartlett, music director at East Lansing High School, conducted the initial concerts.

For the past 34 years, the band has been sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of East Lansing and is the only Kiwanis-sponsored community band in Michigan. The band receives additional support from East Lansing Public Schools (ELPS), the City of East Lansing, the Meridian Community Band, and the MSU Bands, School of Music, Michigan State University.

Jeremy Mattson played clarinet in the band from 1972 to 2017 and managed the band up until last year when he turned those duties over to Dough Nordhaus. He told ELi via email the band reassembles every June to prepare for the concert season.

“The esprit de corps of this band is great, as good as any band I’ve ever played in,” Matson wrote. “We just ask the players to sit where they’re comfortable, whether on 1st, 2nd, or 3rd [chair], and they always sort themselves out. And our audiences appreciate the opportunity to take part in the great American tradition of outdoor summer concerts.”

Co-conductor Dave Larzelere talks to members of the East Lansing Kiwanis Community Band during rehearsal on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. (Dylan Lees for EL)

Larzelere and Zerman have planned concerts featuring selections designed to appeal to the entire family.

“The band performs rousing marches, light classics, as well as tunes from stage and screen,” the press release said. “As appropriate in Spartan territory, each concert ends with ‘MSU Shadows’ and the ‘MSU Fight Song’ – audience participation invited.”

Trumpeters rehearse Tuesday, July 11, 2023, in preparation for the East Lansing Kiwanis Community Band’s 2023 concerts. (Dylan Lees for ELi)

All concerts are open to the public and free of charge. Performances are outdoors and, while there may be limited seating, organizers suggest attendees bring blankets or lawn chairs. Leashed dogs are welcome at most venues.

For more information, find the band on Facebook or contact Nordhaus, band manager, at nordhausdoug@gmail.com.