The North Miami Community Concert Band (aka The North Miami Pops) traces its beginnings to 1952 when a group of musicians joined together to play marches and other musical pieces designed for wind instruments only. Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1982, the band began a monthly concert series at the North Miami Gwen Margolis Community Center (NE 123 Street & 16 Avenue) which is still g
oing strong today with 55 members ranging in age from 15 to 80. The Band is dedicated to inspiring people through its music. The Band fulfills these ideals in many ways. First, it provides a venue for anyone who wants to perform this unique brand of music. The musicians are all volunteers. They are teachers, bankers and others who hold regular jobs. Some of them are retired. Most are not. They live in South Dade and South Broward and everywhere in between. They represent various ethnicities and cultures. Most important, they are all people who always wanted to play a musical instrument but who did not because, for various reasons, life took them in other directions. It is the only band of its kind in the county and it welcomes everyone who wants to play. The band plays Show tunes, Symphonies, Marches, Big Band tunes and seasonal music. The Band also reaches out to musicians who can not perform because they can not afford the instrument and/or the lessons. For the past three years, the band has purchased an instrument to lend. The recipient of the loaned instrument is then mentored by the other members of the orchestra learning everything from how to play a particular instrument to the history of the musical piece they are performing. The Band hopes to keep this tradition going by adding at least one to two musical instruments per year to its inventory. To date it has added a French horn, clarinet and bass clarinet. In addition to the adult musicians, the band provides a venue for high school students to perform. Students who want to become a part of the Band must commit to attending weekly rehearsals and the monthly concerts. Not only does this experience give the student a sense of responsibility, it gives them more performance experience; it allows the student to perform with a higher level group, and, it gives them the understanding and appreciation for a wide variety of band music. In order to share its music with as many people as possible, performances are affordable at a $5 suggested per ticket. Additionally, band members canvas neighborhoods passing out flyers encouraging the local community to attend. The monthly venue accommodates approximately 150 people. Concerts are on the third Sunday the month, September through July. Many of the concerts are full to capacity and often create additional opportunities to serve the community. Finally, as other organizations are tightening their belts, this Band has managed to expand its outreach program in order to bring its music to the greater community. For many years it has performed at the North Miami Annual July 4th Concert and until recently in their Thanksgiving Day Parade. It has also done an annual concert for a local nursing home (Villa Maria) and the Veteran’s Hospital. Two years ago, the Band began a music appreciation program at the Norwood and Biscayne Gardens Elementary Schools. In prior years the Band performed at the Parrot Jungle, at the Douglas Gardens Home for the Aged , at Hadassah South and Rotary Club of Miami. The Band is able to carry out these initiatives because of its strong volunteer corps and because of the reputation it has gained for presenting high quality musical programs. Plans for the current season include a community outreach to local nursing homes and public performances outside of the regularly scheduled concerts at the Gwen Margolis Center in North Miami.
