Red Cedar Festival of Community Bands
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Okemos High School – 2800 Jolly Rd – Okemos, Michigan 48864
The Red Cedar Festival of Community Bands has become the focus event for adult community concert bands throughout Michigan. Since the inaugural concert on Saturday, February 24, 1996, over fifty different musical ensembles have combined to present hundreds of concerts for the public’s entertainment and the musicians’ educational enrichment.
More than forty performance clinicians, representing colleges, universities, and three military service bands, have shared their knowledge with the thousands of musicians who have performed at the Red Cedar Festival since its inception.
The Red Cedar Festival, with its focus on continuing education and direct feedback for both conductors and musicians, has been a catalyst in the remarkable level of improvement in community band musicianship since 1996.
The Red Cedar Festival of Community Bands is funded in part by a grant from the Bullard-Bigler Memorial Fund, Capital Region Community Foundation, participating bands, local area businesses, Meridian Community Band patrons, and people like you. Please consider making a donation to help support the festival.
Performance Clinicians
Much gratitude to our generous community partners.
Performances
The 29th annual Red Cedar Festival of Community Bands welcomes eleven ensembles to the stage throughout the day on February 28th, 2026. Following each concert, the band meets with a performance clinician to receive feedback and coaching.
We invite you to join us for a day celebrating music! Download the full schedule.
Oakland Community College Symphony Band
Waterford Township, Michigan
Roy Johnson, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
Towards a New Life, trans. Daniel Turner
I’m Seventeen Come Sunday, Percy Grainger, arr. Douglas E Wagner
Michigan Morn, H. Owen Reed
Pennywhistle Jig, Henry Mancini, arr. John Moss
British Eighth, Zo Elliott, arr. Quincy Hilliard
Warm-up: 8:30a.m.
Concert: 9:00 a.m.
Post-concert clinic: 9:50 a.m.
Clinician: Dr. Gregory Cunningham
DeWitt Community Concert Band
DeWitt, Michigan
Nicole Leppala, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
Adrenaline, Randall D. Standridge
Windsong, Robert W. Smith
On Wings of Swallows, Michael Sweeney
Highlights From Lord of the Rings “The Fellowship of the Ring”, Howard Shore, arr. Ralph Ford
Tempest and Tranquility, Michael Ware
Warm-up: 9:15 a.m.
Concert: 9:45 a.m.
Post-concert clinic:10:35 a.m.
Clinician: Dr. Tiffany Engle
Schoolcraft College Wind Ensemble
Livonia, Michigan
Paul Michalsen, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
Second Suite for Military Band, Mvt 1 (March), Gustav Holst
Beautiful Colorado, Joseph De Luca
Song of Hope, Peter Meechan
Amazing Grace, Frank Ticheli
On Honor and Valor Eternal, Ayatey Shabazz
Captain America March, Alan Silvestri, arr. Michael Brown
Warm-up: 10:00 a.m.
Concert: 10:30 a.m.
Post-concert clinic: 11:20 a.m.
Clinician: Dr. Christopher Chapman
North Oakland Concert Band
Lake Orion, Michigan
Annette Kline, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
Army of the Nile, Kenneth Alford, arr. Frederick Fennell
Sea Song Fantasy, John Wasson
Crab Migration/Christmas Island, Alex Poelman
Sea to Sky Suite, Mvt. IV Beyond Whistler, Ralph Ford
Superman March, John Williams, arr. Paul Lavender
Warm-up: 10:45 a.m.
Concert: 11:15 a.m.
Post-concert clinic: 12:05 p.m.
Clinician: Dr. Gregory Cunningham
Flint Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Flint, Michigan
Chris Anderson, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
Zacatecas March, Genaro Codina, arr. Andrew Glover
Chorale and Alleluia, Howard Hanson
Come, Sweet Death, J. S. Bach, arr. Alfred Reed
A New Tomorrow, Robert Longfield
Warm-up: 12:00 p.m.
Concert: 12:30 p.m.
Post-concert clinic: 1:20 p.m.
Clinician: Dr. Tiffany Engle
Waterford New Horizons Concert Band
Waterford Township, Michigan
David Rogers & Emily Halls, Conductors
PROGRAM View Page
Ayo, Katahj Copley
Four Shaker Songs, Frank Ticheli
Sparks, Brian Balmages
The Rakes of Mallow, Leroy Anderson
Warm-up: 12:45 p.m.
Concert: 1:15 p.m.
Post-concert clinic: 2:05 pm
Clinician: Dr. Christopher Chapman
West Michigan Concert Winds
Muskegon, Michigan
Gail Brechting, Conductor; Brian Olian, Associate Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
Groovitude, Randall Standridge
Loch Lomond, JaRod Hall
Beau Ideal March, John Philip Sousa
Catch Me If You Can, John Williams
Good Night Moon, Eric Whitacre
Warm-up: 1:30 p.m
Concert: 2:00 p.m.
Post-concert clinic: 2:50 p.m.
Clinician: Dr. Gregory Cunningham
Southshore Concert Band
Benton Harbor, Michigan
Dale Reuss, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
With Pleasure (Dance Hilarious), John Philip Sousa
The Hounds of Spring, Alfred Reed
Opening Night on Broadway, arr. Michael Brown
Images of the Sonrise: Tetelestai, Rossano Galante
Warm-up: 2:15 p.m.
Concert: 2:45 p.m.
Post-concert clinic: 3:35 p.m.
Clinician: Dr. Tiffany Engle
Saginaw Area Concert Band
Saginaw, Michigan
Philip Bossenberger, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
On This Day Earth Shall Ring, Gustav Holst, setting by Robert W. Smith
Washington Post March, John Philip Sousa
Love’s Old Sweet Song, James L. Molloy, arr. Andrew Glover
But Not for Me, George Gershwin, arr. Warren Barker
Prelude and Fugue in Bb Major, J.S. Bach, trans. Ronald L. Moehlmann
Toccata for Band, Frank Erickson
Classics, Classics, Classics!, arr. Bob Lowden
Warm-up: 3:00 p.m.
Concert: 3:30 p.m.
Post-concert clinic: 4:20 p.m.
Clinician: Dr. Christopher Chapman
Royal Oak Concert Band
Royal Oak, Michigan
Kevin Czarnik, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
The Glory of the Yankee Navy, John Philip Sousa
Rhapsody for Euphonium and Concert Band, James Curnow
Fantastic Dreams, Frank Ticheli
Warm-up: 3:45 p.m
Concert: 4:15 p.m.
Post-concert clinic: 5:05 p.m.
Clinician: Dr. Gregory Cunningham
Meridian Community Band
Okemos, Michigan
Mike Scholes, Conductor
PROGRAM View Page
A Festival Prelude, Alfred Reed
Prelude, Siciliano, and Rondo, Malcolm Arnold, arr. John Paynter
Ave Maria, Franz Biebl, arr. Robert Cameron
Courtly Airs and Dances, Ron Nelson
Bayou Breakdown, Brant Karrick
Warm-up: 4:30 p.m.
Concert: 5:00 p.m.
Post-concert clinic: 5:50 p.m.
Clinician: Dr. Tiffany Engle
Support the Red Cedar Festival
The Meridian Community Band is grateful for the support of our community partners:
It takes many hands to host the Red Cedar Festival!
We have a wide range of volunteer roles to fill and love having our band fans spend part of the day with us! Stay tuned for information on volunteer shifts. Discover the kinds of volunteers needed and sign up online. Contact admin@meridiancommunityband.org to learn more about how you or your student organization can volunteer.
Spread the word about the Red Cedar Festival!
Information can be found:
On the MCB website
On the MCB Facebook page or Instagram
On the event page on Facebook
Download the event poster and schedule to share electronically or print
Red Cedar Festival Apparel, including t-shirts, polos, and zip ups can be ordered through March 8th. Visit our online store to place your order; USPS shipping available. To provide the best selection of styles and sizes, clothing items are available through online order only. In addition, we’ll have RCF accessories like hats, coffee mugs, mechanical pencils, and tote bags for sale on-site.
Show your support
The Meridian Community Band’s continued success is made possible with the help of our generous donors.