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Archives View programs, flyers, and news articles dating back to the founding of the Band in 2000. Click the Archives button below. To scroll through on a desktop click any file and then use the left right arrows to scroll through all the files. To scroll on a phone, just open one of the files and swipe. CCC Band Archives

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.

Donate to support the Band and STARTS WITH 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. The following is a list of 2024-25 Donors to Cumberland County Community Band. Maestro ($1000 or more) Frank and Paula Bohannon JW and Lori Bruce Tommy and Cathy Crabtree Don and Linda Eppelheimer Fairfield Glade Ladies Club Richard and Eve Pry Thrivent Choice Dollars Dr. Edward and Karen Thornblade Dwight and Diane Wages Buzz and Mary Ziegler Angels ($500 - $999) Carolyn Boyle Charles and Sharon Ann Elgin Fairfield Glade Rotary Bill Frey Glenn and Betty House William T. Kerr Swing On Brewery Richard and Terri Utsey Larry and Sharon Weaver Benefactors ($250 - $499) Anonymous (2) Kent and Stephanie Bergene Bristow Road Winery Jerry and Kris Brown Kroger Rewards Naiad Kuhlman Charles Merrick III Ransom Rice imo Joe Rice Ed and Lynne Schwaberow Paul and Beverly Smith Brian and Heide Weaver Patrons ($100 - $249) Anonymous Dennis Allen American Legion Post 163 Laura Baptist imo David Farber Bruce Beach Walt Bohner Jeff and Dale Cavanaugh Jennifer Chilcote imo LeVon Chilcote Bob and Jaye Emrick Betsey Erickson Harlan and Lana Everett Linda Frazier Elaine Gilliand Steve and Jane Harding Johnny and Linda Harris Jim and Alice Hodge Suzanne Henry and John Kress Barbara & Charles Hoyda imo David Farber Shelton and Patty Johnson Richard and Darla Kepner William T. Kerr imo David Farber Bob and Mary King Edward Koch, Jr. Charles and Sherri Manker Marine Corps League William and GerriAnne Mason Liz Middleton imo David Farber Phyllis Middling Military Memorial Museum Stephen and Ruth Ann McColley Mary Nolan imo David Farber Beverly Olin Jerry and Tammi Pernell Joan and Doug Peters Mr. and Mrs. Charles Randall Jim and Joyce Reemts Craig Rice imo Joe Rice Carol Rosignolo imo Joe Rice Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church Nancy Dralle Smith Adrienne and James Sutton Marty Tiffany imo Pete Tiffany Ron and Barbara Whynaucht Ken and Chris Wurtenberger Douglas & Linda Zelonis imo David Farber & Pete Tiffany & Billy Edward Ashburn Partners ($50 - $99) Shirley Bateman Jim and Michelle Bayless Tom and Sue Carter imo David Farber Judith Fistler Betsy A. Hess Joe and Kathy Koester Dr. Richard and Marie Leahy Fred and Sandra Maidment Ed and Judy Ostrowski Joe & Ruby Pruett imo Datha Cantrell Yates Gary and Katherine Sherman Bruce and Brenda Snyder imo David Farber James and Alice Taylor Kevin and Tracy Wright Friends (to $49) Bob and Jan Baas John and Karen Benedetti Dick and Roberta Edler Howard and Virginia Longee Joyce Miller & Vicki Sivik Lori Napear 2023-2024 Concert Season Sponsors Frank and Paula Bohannon Tommy and Cathy Crabtree First National Bank of Tennessee Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gwin Realty and Fairfield Glade Rentals STARTS Donors Anonymous (2) Fairfield Glade Community Club Fairfield Glade Ladies Club Fairfield Glade Ladies Golf Invitational Nancy Luckett Middle TN Gas -Project Hometown Help John Stinson VECShare John and Susan Wigington Gifts in-Kind Anonymous Best One Tire and Auto Christy’s Grub Pub Creekside Brewing Cumberland County Playhouse The Flying Pig Forte’s Good Times Wine & Spirits Grinder House McAllister’s Deli The Palace Theater Sheila’s Bakery Simonton’s Social Brew Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band Stagecoach Café Susan Keith Norman Suydam STARTS donation in memory of Joe Rice Anonymous donations James & Alice Auckland Joan & Larry Azevedo Joan and Karen Benedetti Kevin Conley James Darr Olivia Doherty Kathy and Jeremy Donley Nancy Feldman Gary and Kathy Fitch Beverly Fuchs Helen Gerlach Mary Hall Ruth Hill Margaret Holden John & Kathleen Johnson Maxine Kappler Sherry Koch Sally Kowalski Alice Lawless Don and Cindy Lent Judy and Richard Lodes Patti Macken Julie Mann GerriAnne & Brian Mason Gay and Tony Moreno Ellen O’Brien Hans & Carol Plattner Ted & Judy Piotrowski John and Denise Ranger Michael & Glenna Rodts Jean Smith John & Virginia Smith Paul Starr Judith Sutton Kathy Upp Rosemary Wawro Janet & Bryan White Mary Vivian White Ron & Barbara Whynaught Millie Zeloof With Very Special Thanks Art Circle Library Bruce Johnson and Cumberland County High School Elmore’s Designs Jimmy Pleasant and Business Equipment Center Gina Padgett Stone Memorial High School Sunshine Cleaners The list of donations includes gifts received from 1/1/2024 - 1/1/2025 If your donation was not listed or your name was listed incorrectly, please contact the Band at board@cccband.net imo: In Memory Of

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 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.

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!!

STARTS (SupportTheARTS), an Initiative of the Cumberland County Community Band in Support of "ARTS" Education in the Cumberland County Schools Patricia and Emery Nagy Scholarship The Band is proud to support local high school musicians with the Patricia and Emery Nagy Scholarship, created in memory of two of our founding members. High school students who participate in high school band and the CCC band are eligible for scholarships from $500 to $2,000. Link to Scholarship Poster

Band photos Thanks to Photographer Terry Ashburn for 2022 Photos

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).

STARTS (SupportTheARTS), an Initiative of the Cumberland County Community Band in Support of "ARTS" Education in the Cumberland County Schools STARTS (SupportTheARTS) An Initiative of the Cumberland County Community Band in Support of "ARTS" Education in the Cumberland County Schools History During May and June 2016, Glen Belcher, Director of the Cumberland County Community Band (CCCB), invited the “ARTS” teachers in the Cumberland County School System (CCSS) to participate in a survey which focused on assessing the current status and needs of the Band, Classroom Music, Chorus, Drama and Visual Art programs in the eleven public schools (9 elementary schools and 2 high schools) in Cumberland County, Tennessee. The responses from those 22 teachers became the basis for a “system-wide” needs list which was then shared with school officials, local civic groups and interested individuals. The responses from the community were overwhelmingly “What can we do?” and “How can we help?” Realizing that there was a real need for additional funding and support for all of the “ARTS” programs, and that many in the community were willing, even eager, to be a part of an organized effort to provide that support, the Board of Directors of the CCCB unanimously agreed to provide the leadership of such an effort. On August 1, 2016 the STARTS program was officially organized as an initiative of the CCCB (a designated 501c(3) organization). As a result, all donations to the STARTS program are tax deductible. Starts Director Glen Belcher presents check to CCHS Theater department for production costs Ms. Janet Graham, Director of CCSS, was very receptive to the assistance offered by STARTS , and appointed Dr. Rebecca Farley, Curriculum Supervisor for grades 3-8, as the liaison between the CCSS and STARTS . The level of cooperation between Dr. Farley and STARTS has been one of the key factors in the effectiveness of this joint effort to support “ARTS” education in our schools. Goals A basic tenet of the STARTS philosophy is that we can be most helpful when we listen to teachers who are in the classrooms. Art, Drama and Music teachers are among the most resourceful and creative teachers in public schools and are universally driven by their desire to see their students, individually and collectively, experience “success” in their respective area of the “ARTS”. Once teachers set and prioritized their goals and needs, STARTS would help provide resources and funding needed to implement their programs and achieve their goals.As guidelines to help us organize support for “ARTS” education, STARTS has set the following goals: 7th Grade band receives nine donated instruments Raise community awareness of “ARTS” education programs in the Cumberland County Schools Highlight the benefits of strong “ARTS” programs in schools for children and the community Inform the community of the specific needs of “ARTS” teachers and programs Connect potential donors with opportunities to provide money, goods or services that will meet those specified needs Encourage partnerships between Cumberland County Schools, local arts organizations and individual artists to create mutually beneficial relationships between artists, teachers and students How Funding Benefits the Arts in Our Schools In September 2016, STARTS was presented with its first opportunity to assist with funding a CCSS program. Terry Ashburn, a retired local band director and Board Chairman for the Bryan Symphony Orchestra (BSO), had secured funds to provide tickets for every 4th grade student in the CCSS to attend a special BSO Educational Concert at Tennessee Tech University. Dr. Farley informed the STARTS director that the grant paid for the tickets but not the bus transportation to the concert. Could STARTS help? With donations from local groups, individuals and the CCCB, STARTS was able to provide the funds needed to transport the 4th graders on 10 buses to the BSO Concert in Cookeville. Since then STARTS has been able to assist school “ARTS” programs in the CCSS in the many ways, including: Money donated to STARTS has been used to repair and replace band instruments belonging to the schools and to purchase additional instruments as needed. Instruments donated to STARTS have been refurbished and then given to schools. Money has been given as a donation to the general fund to provide visual arts supplies and awards for school "ARTS” programs. Script and copyright fees were provided for school drama programs. When the U.S. Navy Brass Quintet from Washington DC visited Crossville, STARTS arranged for the quintet to perform at the Palace Theatre for 300 5-6-7-8th grade students and paid for bus transportation for the students. Items donated to STARTS have been given to schools which needed those specific items. Occasionally, STARTS puts a donor in direct contact with the school or teacher and the donation goes directly from the donor to the school and does not go through STARTS In several instances, teachers have used STARTS donations as “seed” money, applied for grants or matching funds and “leveraged” the original donation from STARTS into an even larger donation. How You Can Help You can donate online by using the Donate button on the Donate page of this website. You can also make a donation directly to STARTS by way of a check made out to CCCB with the memo STARTS and mailed to: Cumberland County Community Band, P.O. Box 1624, Crossville, TN 38558 Attend a school concert, art exhibit or theater production. Make a donation or purchase a ticket, but more importantly show your support by attending and demonstrating to the student artists and performers that you appreciate and support their efforts. Speak to others about the value of “ARTS” education in our public schools. Neighbors, community leaders, school administrators, principals, school board members, parents and children all need to hear this discussion framed in positive terms which encourages more community discussion and action. Glen Belcher, CCCB Director and Director of STARTS is available and eager to speak about the STARTS program and the benefits of strong “ARTS” programs in public schools for students, families and the community. For additional information about STARTS or to arrange for him to speak to a club, group or organization please contact board@cccband.net . Community Support From the beginning of the STARTS program, local media has provided outstanding press coverage. The publicity provided and the articles written by “The Crossville Chronicle” staff members have given STARTS name recognition in the community and assisted in establishing contacts and building working relationships between STARTS and those individuals and organizations who want to see a stronger presence of quality “ARTS” programs in our local public schools. The following organizations have offered continuing support and/or made significant donations to STARTS : ACPL Friends of the Library Art Guild at Fairfield Glade Boyds-Best City of Crossville Crossville Breakfast Rotary Club Cumberland Artisans for Creative Expression (CACE) Cumberland County Arts Roundup Cumberland County Community Band Cumberland County Community Chorus DGL Percussion Fairfield Glade Ladies Club Fairfield Glade Rotary Fairfield Glade Rotary Foundation Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church Gibson and Winn Productions Palace Theatre Project Hometown Help Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band VEC Customers Share Foundation To all of those individuals, groups and organizations who have given so generously to STARTS or directly to school “ARTS” programs, we thank you for your support. Together, through the music, drama and visual arts teachers and programs, we ARE making a difference in the lives of thousands of children in the Cumberland County School System!