Our Story
The MIT Concert Band holding rehearsal in Walker Memorial in the fall of 1948.
A photo of the MIT Concert Band’s first performance, given at the Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston, May 1949.
The MIT Concert Band (MITCB) is one of the oldest student groups on campus. Founded by students in the fall of 1948, the MIT Concert Band was first directed by John Corley. Mr. Corley made the band widely known for its performance and commissioning of original compositions for wind ensemble. In December 1953, the MIT Concert Band became one of the first ensembles to devote itself entirely to original works for band in the belief that the wind band is an important and unique means of musical expression and that its repertoire is deserving of performance.
In addition to performing works of well-known twentieth-century composers such as Hindemith, Copland, and Schoenberg, the band has commissioned new pieces by Jeff Morrow, Adrian Childs, Thomas Duffy, and Stephen Melillo. In 1986, the Oxford University Press began a project to publish many of the band’s commissioned works. The MIT Concert Band has given the first Boston area performances of many major compositions for band, including Hindemith’s Symphony in Bb, Schoenberg’s Theme and Variations, Holst’s Hammersmith, Giannini’s Symphony No. 3, Hanson’s Chorale and Alleluia, and Reed’s Second Symphony.
A rough timeline with key events is shown below, compiled by band members Frank and Toby Kreimendahl:
September 1948
Students start the MIT Concert Band
October 1948
John Corley is hired to conduct band
May 1949
MITCB gives its first performance at Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston
December 1953
Band votes to devote itself entirely to original works for band
April 1975
200th anniversary of the battle of Lexington and Concord, band plays Stars and Stripes under Arthur Fiedler on Boston City Hall Plaza with dozens of high school and college bands
1979 – 1980
Kresge Auditorium closed for roof replacement, band plays in Walker Memorial
September 1980
Band plays for the inauguration of MIT president Paul Gray in Killian Court
September 1981
Icarus, A Sky Opera by Paul Earls in Killian Court
January 1986
Band goes on tour to Florida; Watched launch of Challenger shuttle that turned into a tragedy
1986 – 1992
Summer Concert Band, concerts at Faneuil Hall & Kresge Auditorium
May 1987
Premiered Challenger: Ron McNair by Ira Schwarz
January 1993
Band goes on tour to Iceland, 50 years since John Corley stationed there as army band leader
May 1999
John Corley’s last concert as conductor
January 2000
Band stars again as a student group with alumni and community members
April 2000
Band plays concert at Lincoln Memorial during band tour
April 2016
Band goes on tour to California, sponsored by generous alumnus
2020 – 2021
COVID-19 results in: band cancels spring concert, virtual rehearsals and concert with world premiere for Zoom Band, rehearsals outdoors under a tent and masked concerts
2022 – 2023
Celebrating MIT Concert Band’s 75th year
February 2024
Band goes on tour to Quebec City, Canada
For those that are interested, here is a paper that sheds some additional light about our history, our late conductor John Corley, and the pieces of music that we have commissioned in the past.