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Welcome To The Crystal Lake Community Band


  Next Concert:
     Crystal Lake Main Beach
     (1:00 Parade & Evening Concert)
     Sunday July 5th 7:15 pm

An Affiliate of the Crystal Lake Park District
P.O. Box 684
Crystal Lake, IL 60039
TEL: (815) 477-BAND
EMAIL: info@clcb.org

Our History


1984 - 2009

The history of band music in the Crystal Lake area dates back to the Crystal Lake City Band of the early 1900's. The current Crystal Lake Community Band is celebrating its 25th anniversary, having been established in 1984 as an affiliate of the Crystal Lake Park District. The band was founded by a small group of amateur musicians seeking an outlet for their love of music. From the outset, the Band has always sought adult members from all walks of the community and prided itself on its ability to bring music of a consistently high level to the public. Currently, the Band boasts a roster of approximately ninety members including both professional and dedicated amateur musicians. Members come from sixteen different communities in Illinois and Wisconsin.

The band year is divided into three seasons: Spring (which is highlighted by the Spring Pops Concert), Summer (which showcases outdoor concerts-in-the-parks in local communities), and Winter (where the Christmas Pops Concert is featured). The "Pops" format is designed to bring a mixture of serious, seasonal and popular music to the public. All performances offer variety and typically include works by composers as diverse as Shostakovich, Grainger, Sousa and Ellington. The Band regularly offers Guest Soloists (both from within and outside of its ranks), Jazz Band features, and other small ensembles to its concert-going audiences. Throughout the past 15 years the Band has performed during five trips to Europe as well as performances in Alaska.

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Our Conductor

Don Ehrensperger Don Ehrensperger
Don Ehrensperger graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor and Master of Music Degree. He studied conducting with John P. Paynter and trumpet with Vincent Czichowitz of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He taught at Cary-Grove High School in Cary, Illinois from 1963 to 1993 where his Marching, Concert and Jazz bands won acclaim throughout the area. A clinician and adjudicator in Illinois and Wisconsin, he is a member of numerous Musical Associations. Mr. Ehrensperger has conducted the Crystal Lake Community Band since 1986, leading the group throughout the area and abroad to Italy and Germany as well as performances in Alaska.

Assistant Conductor

Duane Peiffer Duane Peiffer
Duane Peiffer first began working with community bands as an 18 year old baritone sax player with the Cedar Rapids, IA Municipal Band. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University in 1989, he taught in Lake Zurich where he also participated in the Lake Zurich Summer Band. While completing his Master of Music degree at Northwestern University in 1992, he played bassoon with the North Shore Concert Band. For the past 15 years, Mr. Peiffer has been the director of the Woodstock City Band. In addition to working with community bands, he has taught middle school and high school band, middle school general music and choir, and high school guitar. Duane has always enjoyed a variety of musical experiences and has performed professionally on voice, woodwinds, brass, and percussion in ensembles ranging from church orchestra to jazz ensemble to vocal studio recording.