Our History
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 CLCB was 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 Winter 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 17 years the Band has performed during five trips to Europe as well as performances in Alaska.
