New Music Director

From Bloomington Herald-Times Community News June 30, 2016

BCB Hires a New Music Director

The Bloomington Community Band is pleased to announce that its search for a music director resulted in the appointment of Ryan Yahl, who assumed his position at the regular band rehearsal April 25, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church. Yahl is the fourth music director since the BCB’s re-establishment in 1978 under the leadership of Professor Emeritus Newell Long, who was succeeded, in turn, by Tim Moore and Ron Sebben. Dr. Joe Car, now serving as interim music director, will become associate music director.

Yahl is an associate instructor in the department of bands at the Jacobs School of Music, a position in which he will continue while completing his doctor of music in wind conducting.

He earned both a bachelor of music and a master of music from the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University. Prior to moving to Bloomington and beginning his studies at IU last fall, Yahl taught middle school and high school band in Ohio for nine years, spending six years as director of bands for the New Bremen Local School District.

The BCB is an adult volunteer concert band of 50 to 60 musicians ranging in age from 18 to 85. Any adult with a band instrument may sit in without audition. Each year, the band presents 15 to 20 concerts in and around Monroe County at civic events, public gatherings, retirement homes, state parks and local festivals. An extensive BCB music library supports widely varying programs — such as, patriotic and martial music on Memorial Day and July 4; symphonic work, jazz and the great American songbook for festival concerts; and special music for the Christmas and holiday season. Interested? Check out BCB and contact the band through the new Web page: www.bloomingtoncommunityband.org.