Tacoma Concert Band

HISTORY OF THE BAND

Founded in 1981 by its Conductor and Music Director, Robert Musser, the band enjoys a regional, national and international reputation.

The Tacoma Concert Band's mission is: to provide the Puget Sound community with a professional-quality wind ensemble performing the very finest symphonic band music; to offer a high-quality performance opportunity to local wind and percussion musicians; to support and encourage the region's school band programs; and to reaffirm the community concert band's position in American music.

From its first concert at Stadium High School in 1981, through a progression of awards, commissions, tours, and guest artists, the TCB has triumphantly reached its 30th year of serving as the Northwest's premier community symphonic band.

The band performs an eclectic blend of musical styles ranging from Bach to Broadway, and Strauss to Sousa, with its roots in the tradition of the finest European and American bands and extending through to new music commissioned especially for the band.

Under the direction of Maestro Robert Musser the band has received many awards, including the prestigious Sudler Scroll of the John Philip Sousa Foundation, a national award for community bands of outstanding quality, and awards for excellence from the Tacoma and Pierce County Arts Commissions.

The band has released three cassettes and five compact discs. In the summer of 2007, the TCB performed a series of concerts in France with a second European tour in the summer of 2011.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE CONDUCTOR

Robert Musser

Robert Musser is Professor Emeritus at the University of Puget Sound, where he was Director of Bands, Professor of Oboe and Saxophone, and Chairman of Winds and Percussion for 34 years.

He is the founder, music director and conductor of the Tacoma Concert Band, an organization that has gained a national and international reputation for excellence.

He is also the former music director and conductor of the Puget Sound Youth Wind Ensemble.

For many years he performed as principal oboe with the Tacoma Symphony and as a woodwind specialist (playing oboe, English horn, flute, clarinet and saxophone) throughout the Puget Sound area.

Among his many awards are the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, election into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association (an honorary organization for distinguished band conductors), the Diploma of the Sudler Order of Merit of the John Philip Sousa Foundation, and election into the Washington Music Educators Association Hall of Fame.

He has conducted numerous regional and state festivals and honor bands and appeared as a guest conductor of both bands and orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, China, Russia, and Ukraine.

Upon his retirement from the University of Puget Sound, the Mayor of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, proclaimed April 22, 2005 as ROBERT MUSSER DAY in the City of Tacoma "in celebration of the contributions of this outstanding educator, musician and mentor."