Saturday, June 7, 2025 (6:45pm)
George Mason University Center for the Performing Arts, 4373 Mason Pond Dr, Fairfax, VA
(Tickets available for purchase at the venue).
James Kirchenbauer, Conductor
Brett Dodson, Associate Conductor
Program
- Commando March, Samuel Barber
- Wayfaring Stranger, Christopher Nelson
- “Marches” from Symphony for Band (“West Point”), Morton Gould
- Danzon, Third Sailor’s Dance from the Ballet “Fancy Free”, Leonard Bernstein, Arr. John Krance
- How Sweet the Sound, Brian Balmages
- Rail Riffs, Brian Balmages
- Animation – Episode 1: Wabbit!, Randall D. Standridge (7:30)
Program notes provided: TBD
Today’s Conductors
James Kirchenbauer, Conductor
James Kirchenbauer, a native of Toledo, Ohio, received his post-secondary education at Oberlin College. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Music in trumpet performance and a Master of Music Teaching, earning Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Kappa Lambda honors. Mr. Kirchenbauer taught at Crossland High School and Taney Junior High School in Prince George’s County, Maryland. An accomplished vocalist, Mr. Kirchenbauer sang for six years in the 13-member professional choir at St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square in Washington, DC. He has performed as a member of the trumpet section of the Fairfax Wind Symphony, the Capital Wind Symphony and the Virginia Grand Military Band. Solo experience includes appearances with the McLean Symphony and the Virginia Grand Military Band.
In 1982, Mr. Kirchenbauer was appointed band director at McLean High School. The McLean Symphonic Band made three appearances at the Bands of America’s “National Concert Band Festival” in 1995, 1999 and 2006. They were the featured performing group at the Virginia Music Educators Conference in 2006 and also in 2002, appearing with the Boston Brass. They performed at the 2006 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago Illinois. In 2000, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the McLean Symphonic Band the Sudler Flag of Honor, the most prestigious recognition a high school concert band can receive. Mr. Kirchenbauer is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the American School Band Director’s Association, National Band Association and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. He served as the Performing Arts Department Chairman at Mclean High School for 20 years and was selected as McLean’s 1996-97 Teacher of the Year. He resides in Arlington with his wife Lisa, and their three sons, John and twins, David and Robert.
Brett Dodson, Associate Conductor
Brett Dodson is a resident of Arlington, Virginia who enjoys work as an educator, performer, and conductor. Mr. Dodson holds degrees from James Madison University and Bowling Green State University. He has studied conducting at intensives with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland.
Mr. Dodson currently serves as Assistant Director for the Arlington Concert Band and the Brass Band of Northern Virginia. He previously directed the City of Fairfax Band Association’s educational division, Northern Virginia Youth Winds, and was a public school band director in Texas and Virginia for ten years. His ensembles were twice featured in performance at the Virginia Music Educators Association Conference, and his Kilmer Middle School Band was one of three in the nation selected as a Program of Excellence by the National Band Association in the year awarded. He maintains a trumpet studio of approximately thirty-five members from schools in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties and assists as many as fifteen schools annually in the capacity of sectional coach or ensemble clinician. He has performed with the Brass Band of Northern Virginia, Capital Wind Symphony, Fairfax Wind Symphony, and the Disneyland All-American College Band.
Next Concert
Please join us at our next free performance, which will be after our Summer break.
Support Local Community Music
The Arlington Concert Band Association is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, whose function is to support the Arlington Concert Band. We need your help to continue to bring music to the Arlington community, and we are so grateful for your support! Donations are fully tax deductible. Please see this page for details.
Arlington Concert Band 