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Band photos Thanks to Photographer Terry Ashburn for 2022 Photos

Our Assistant Conductor, Ruth Ann Tuten Ruth Ann Tuten Assistant Conductor Ruth Ann Tuten moved to Crossville in March of 2017 and joined the band’s clarinet section shortly thereafter. Ruth Ann received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. After graduation, she taught instrumental music in Grades 6 through 12 for Allendale County Schools, Allendale South Carolina. Ruth Ann’s next teaching assignment was in Greenwood, South Carolina in grades 7 through 9. Mrs. Tuten was a member of the South Carolina Music Educators Association, the South Carolina Band Directors Association and served on multiple committees including the Solo and Ensemble Festival. After teaching, Mrs. Tuten worked in the Zoning Office for the County of Lexington, South Carolina. She then received an Associate Degree in Computer Programming from Midlands Technical College in Columbia, South Carolina and was employed by Computer Sciences Corporation until retirement. Prior to moving to Crossville, Mrs. Tuten was a member of the Columbia Community Concert Band in Columbia, South Carolina. She served a term as President of this organization. She was served as Assistant Conductor for several years prior to moving to Crossville. Ruth Ann is a native of Allendale, SC and retired to Crossville five years ago with her husband of six years, Mike. She is currently a member and Vice-President of the Plateau Women’s Chorus, a member of the Enchanted Woods clarinet ensemble and Crossville First United Methodist Church Handbell Choir. Her other hobbies include golf, singing, playing piano and travelling with a goal to visit all of our country’s National Parks.

The Cumberland County Community Band is open to membership to anyone in the area with an interest in music and a desire to pursue their instrument in a congenial group setting. Performance Schedule 2025-2026 Veterans Benefit Concert November 6, 2025 7:00 pm Cumberland County High School Holiday Concert December 18, 2025 7:00 pm Cumberland County High School Summer Concert May 21, 2026 7:00 pm Cumberland County High School Veterans Day Ceremony November 11, 2025 11:00 am Downtown Crossville Spring Concert March 5, 2026 7:00 pm Cumberland County High School Memorial Day Ceremony May 26, 2026 Downtown Crossville All concerts are free and are held at 7pm in the Cumberland County High School Auditorium, 660 Stanley St, Crossville, TN The Cumberland County Community Band rehearses on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM at the Cumberland County High School Band Room, 660 Stanley Street, Crossville, TN.

Plateau Brass - a Brass Quintet The Plateau Brass ensemble was founded in November of 2006 to perform at a veterans dinner and ceremony presented by the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. The group has been asked to provide music at venues too small to accommodate the full Cumberland County Community Band. Over the years, the group has performed at the band’s formal concerts at Stone Memorial High School, the Noon Brown Bag Lunch Concerts at the Art Circle Library, the Fairfield Glade Ladies Club, the Palace Theatre and other local events at churches, parks and Main Street Crossville. The Plateau Brass is made up of members from the brass section of the Cumberland County Community Band. Our music repertoire includes Marches, Highlights of Broadway Musicals and old favorites from the 50’s and 60’s.

The Cumberland County Community Band is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible. The band rehearses on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM at the Stone Memorial High School Band Room in Crossville, TN. ​ The band is composed of amateur musicians returning to their instruments after periods of inactivity, retired and working band directors and professional players, all who enjoy playing in a congenial performing group. We encourage interested musicians in the area to join us. The Crossville Cornet Band, circa 1888 Research shows that an early written account of a community band was in 1888 when a Crossville Cornet Band was mentioned. It was customary in those days for small towns to have bands for holiday celebrations such as Independence Day and for Sunday concerts in the park. In November of 2000, local teacher, Murray Kidwell, gathered a small group of interested musicians and plans were made for the formation of a community band. The band began rehearsals at the Cumberland County High School later that month. The CCCB’s first performance was on December 10, 2000 in the Cumberland County High School gymnasium with Mr. Kidwell conducting. Mr. Kidwell continued as director of the band until his retirement in 2008. After retiring as the band’s director Mr. Kidwell became the band’s principal flautist. Between April 2008 and September 2011 the band perfomed under several guest directors including Jack Bittle, Lance Kennedy, Don Miller and Mike Chilcutt. In September of 2011 Brian Bacon became the band’s director and continued in that position until June 2015. Murray Kidwell returned to the podium and directed concerts in July and September of that year. Mr. Glen Belcher directed the band from September 2015 through December 2019. He is a retired band director with 37 years teaching experience in Tennessee and Alabama. He is passionate about the benefits of Arts education and in August 2016, under his directorship, the CCCB Board of Directors assumed oversight of the STARTS (SupportTheARTS) Program. He speaks frequently about the benefits of Arts education and may be contacted through the band’s website. Effective January 2020, principal clarinetist, William Kerr, assumed the Conductor position of the Band.

View our Summer Concert 2025 on YouTube View our full Veterans Benefit Concert 2023 on YouTube View our full Spring Concert 2023 on YouTube Disney at the Oscars That's Entertainment View our Holiday Concert December 2022 on YouTube The Eighth Candle: A Prayer and Dance for Hanukkah Reindeer Rumba View our Veterans Benefit Concert November 2022 on YouTube All concert proceeds benefit local Veterans' organizations Veterans Salute Star Spangled Spectacular

With sincere appreciation, we recognize the financial support of our donors, sponsors, funders, and community organizations whose help provides us with the resources to fulfill our mission by positively contributing to the musical environment of our community. The Cumberland County Community Band is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Community Band Support With sincere appreciation, we recognize the financial support of our donors, sponsors, funders, and community organizations whose help provides us with the resources to fulfill our mission by positively contributing to the musical environment of our community. The Cumberland County Community Band is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. If you would like to contribute to help with the band's expenses for music and performance use fees, please consider one of the following categories: Maestro Angel Benefactor Patron Sponsor Friend $1000 or more $500 - $999 $250 - $499 $100 - $249 $50 - $99 $25 - $49 A letter of appreciation will be sent to all donors stating the amount received. Included will be the band’s Federal nonprofit ID number. This can be used as a charitable tax deduction. To donate by check, please make out check to CUMBERLAND COUNTY COMMUNITY BAND and mail to: PO Box 1624 Crossville, TN 38558. We also accept donations online by credit card or Paypal, by clicking the Donate button below. When you click the Donate button you'll see options to have your donation go to (1) the Band general fund, (2) the STARTS Program, or (3) divide your donation evenly between them. Make your selection and select method of payment. Please check the box "Share your mailing address with Cumberland County Community Band so they can acknowledge your donation" so we may may send a thank-you letter confirming your donation Qualified Charitable Distributions If you wish to send us a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), please ask your financial institution to include your name and address so that we can send you an acknowledgement of your gift. SPECIAL THANKS We appreciate the financial support of every person, businesses, and groups who have contributed to our band since its inception in the year 2000. Thank you for your donations at our concerts as well as those donations specifically dedicated to our uniform fund or music library. Do You Shop at Kroger? Kroger's offers benefits to nonprofit organizations through their rewards program. If you have a Kroger Rewards card, please go to their website, find the Community Rewards Program page and enter Cumberland County Community Band or search by our NPO number UF134, then click on the number to confirm that you would like Kroger Rewards to benefit the Band. This is at no cost to you and your Kroger Rewards are not affected. Thank you!!

Our Conductor, Bill Kerr William T. Kerr William T. Kerr is our conductor, after playing in the Clarinet section since November 2016. Mr. Kerr graduated from Westminster College, New Wilmington, PA with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. His Master of Science in Education was received at Long Island University, NY. He began his career teaching and directing the Choir and Band program at Mullens High School in West Virginia. Then he returned to his home state and taught band for 32 years at Valley Stream North High School, New York. The band program grew from 30 students to over 175 when he retired in 2015; that growth created an additional full-time band director position and a new band facility. Over those years his band was invited to play at many events around New York City, including: a West Point Football game, the annual Newsday Marching Band Festival, a Disney theatre opening, welcome for returning Gulf War troops and a cameo appearance in the Nickelodeon TV show The Naked Brothers Band. Mr. Kerr had wonderful opportunities to work with great conductor/teachers over the years including: Howard Rockwin (Mepham HS); Barry Beeber and Dr. Janita Byars (Kennedy HS); Drs. Grover Pittman and Clarence Martin (Westminster), Dr. Anthony Maiello (George Mason University) and Dr. Peter Boonshaft (Hofstra University). Communities all around Long Island benefited from Mr. Kerr as conductor or clarinetist for over 50 musicals, so he knows the scores for great shows like Anything Goes, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma!, The King and I, My Fair Lady, Evita, Guys and Dolls, West Side Story, Man of La Mancha, Hello Dolly and Show Boat. Mr. Kerr was privileged to have a variety of clarinet instructors: Vincent Heikler, Dr. Janita Byars, Ann Hetrick, Louis Coletta, and Vincent (Jimmy) Abato (New York Metropolitan Opera). Mr. Kerr maintained a clarinet, flute and saxophone studio for 15 years, developing the talents of music students and guiding them thru the NY School Music Association Spring Festivals. Every year, Mr. Kerr’s students were accepted into either the All-State, All-Eastern or All-County (Nassau) Music Festivals. Mr. Kerr and his family moved to Crossville in 2016 after years of planning for the move. Just before the move, Grace, his wife, was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer and two strokes, but they were committed to the move. She died in Crossville in 2018, but her love for music, family, and life live on in all who knew her. Their son, Timothy, recently graduated (summa cum laude) from the University of Tennessee majoring in Sports Management. He is working at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. When Bill is not playing with the CCCB, you can see him playing in the Cookeville Clarinet Choir, Cookeville Community Band, The Enchanted Winds, and the Jazz band Cumberland Swing Experience or singing with the Christ Lutheran Church choir. He enjoys playing tennis, vegetable gardening and travelling (when his musical commitments allow).

The Cumberland County Community Band is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible. The band is composed of amateur musicians returning to their instruments after periods of inactivity, retired and working band directors and professional players, all who enjoy playing in a congenial performing group. We encourage interested musicians in the area to join us. About the Band The Cumberland County Community Band is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible. The band rehearses on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 PM at the Cumberland County High School Band Room in Crossville, TN. The band is composed of amateur musicians returning to their instruments after periods of inactivity, retired and working band directors and professional players, all who enjoy playing in a congenial performing group. We encourage interested musicians in the area to join us. Most concerts are performed in the auditorium of the Stone Memorial High School. Members of the Board Buzz Zeigler, President Sylvia Becker, Vice President Brian Weaver, Treasurer Gary Kunath, Secretary William T. Kerr, Conductor Ruth Ann Tuten, Assistant Conductor Dana Beal, STARTS Coordinator Jane Winters, Music Library Beth Chase, Development Shirley Creager, Personnel Manager Mark Sczublewski, Stage & Property Manager Joan Vrielink-Capito, Publicity Manager Paula Scott, Member at Large Doyle Winters, Member at Large Volunteers Paul Beal – Uniform Coordinator Georgeia McCann – Website and Historian Gina Padgett – Posters and Concert Programs Greeters Don Eppelheimer Linda Eppelheimer Carol Plattner Heidi Rose Doyle Winters Our Founder Murray Kidwell Band Members Flute Bonnie Ashburn Phyllis Bidwell Beth Chase Susan Keith Mary Anne Lankford Nancy Lind Georgeia McCann Cassie McCoy Paula Scott Gabby Sparks Joan Vrielink-Capito Annabella Weece Linda Zelonis Clarinet Shirley Creager Alex Cruz Myra Eliott John Hughes Bruce Johnson Bill Kerr Ruth Ann McColley Amber McCrea Chris Monchecourt April Olson Elijah Sparks Ruth Ann Tuten Barbara Whynaucht Bass Clarinet Wayne Rose Contra Bass Clarinet Corey Cox Oboe Dana Beal Daniel Christman Bassoon Ada Grey Terri Kunath Diane Remillard Alto Saxophone Mikki Betker Dan England Miriam Jenkins Callie Johnson Pedro Pons Tenor Saxophone Mike Bush Brian Hickman Karin Leahy Robert Sparks Bari Saxophone Patrick Lankford Dakota Propst French Horn Bill Boyd Ben Brewer Gina Gotcher Jane Harding Laura Steinke David White Jane Winters Buzz Ziegler Trumpet Terry Ashburn Sylvia Becker Harold Ford Earl Keith Gary Kunath Bill McCay Ryder Sapp Mark Sczublewski Trombome Steve Parke Alyssa Parker Paul Beal Jim Bell Caleb Capps Rick Kepner Mario Laborde Mani Lozano Bill Meyrahn Rick Pearman Joey Propst Allen Rumbaugh Baritone Bob Aanerud Ruth Ernest Euphonium Jimmy Coffer Dudley Robinson Thomas Tupper Tuba Dave Bouque Joan Peters Brian Weaver Kevin Wright Percussion Carol Boyd Rick Dennis Bob Holder Nick Kaufmann Bob Kludt Hans Plattner Will Rose Katelyn Ryder Rachel Sims Bob White

The Plateau Old Time German Band Featuring German style polkas and other favorites The band was formed in 2011 by Pete Tiffany after a request from the Cumberland County Community Band for a German oompa Polka band to supplement the main organization at some of the smaller venues and to help spread the word about the main band. Pete, a euphonium player and member of the now defunct Emery/Pat Nagy small band (The Entertainers), used his experiences in the Nagy band and the gift of the band's music library by the Nagy family to help facilitate the start of the group now known as the Plateau Old Time German band. Thank you Nagys! Since then, members of the German Band have been participating in a wide number of community activities. These include The Art Circle Library Noontime Series, the Fairfield Glade Homeowners Group, the Good Samaritans retirement complex, Lake Tansi Homeowners Group, the Pleasant Hill Uplands Village, the Fairpark Senior Center, the 127 Senior Center, the local Alzheimer's Association, St. Judes Children's Hospital fundraiser, local PBS station, Autumn Festival at local church, and at a Fairfield Glade block party. Although initially a mostly Oktoberfest type German Band, the instrumentation and abilities of the individual players has resulted in the music of the group expanding outside of the German music genre. In their concerts, the group is playing a number of the German folk tunes such as the polka, waltz, laendler and the schottisch, but also including some of the more well known polkas and waltzes from around the world. Music from Polish , American, Mexican and other cultures has been featured. The band quickly found the audiences preferred happy and uplifting music. Pop tunes, Dixieland, patriotic and even disco have been added. And, the band also discovered that audiences would participate in the show if encouraged. In response, the band has included some favorites such as the Chicken Dance, the Happy Wanderer, TN themed songs, and even a version of an all-time favorite audience-participation tune, YMCA! Our tradition: end each show with one of the most well known polkas there is - The Beer Barrel Polka, followed by a chorus of Rocky Top.

Our Founder, Murray Kidwell Murray Kidwell Jun 27, 1938 – Nov 11, 2019 In the summer of 2000, Murray Kidwell gathered a small group of local musicians and made plans for the formation of a community band. Later that fall, on November 7th rehearsals were begun and on December 10th at the Cumberland County High School Gymnasium the first concert was held with the Cumberland County High School Band. Murray continued as director of the band until his retirement in 2008. He continued to play with the CCCB until Dec 2018. Murray graduated from Cumberland County High School and went on to active military service with the United States Air Force Band, performing in 48 U.S. States, Europe, Asia, and Africa in more than 8000 concerts. He performed concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Paris Opera Orchestra. He also played at Westminister Abbey and at the Mozarteum in Saltzsburg. Murray received a commendation from the US Ambassador to the Soviet Union in the mid 70's for his public relations work with the Air Force Band. Murray’s principal instruments were the flute and piccolo. Upon returning to Crossville, Murray taught history, art and band in Cumberland County schools for 26 years, and was listed in Who's Who in American Education as an Influential Educator. For Murray’s work with the community band, his commitment to veterans, and other public service causes, he was named Humanitarian of the Year by the Business and Professional Women on 10/28/2004.

Contact us by email or form Contact Us First Name Last Name Email Write a message Submit Thanks for submitting! Email board@cccband.net Address PO Box 1624 Crossville, TN 38558 You may contact us by using the Contact Form, or by sending an email to board@cccband.net . We'll get back to you as soon as we can. We look forward to hearing from you!