Community Band of Brevard to Perform ‘A Spring Fling’ at Merritt Island High School Auditorium On March 12

The 3 P.M. concert will feature variety of light musical marches, along with salutes to baseball, Star Trek and more

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA – The Community Band of Brevard is in love with spring and the lighthearted music of the season.

On Sunday, March 12, conductor Robin Kessler and his award-winning band will enjoy A Spring Fling at Merritt Island High School Auditorium, 100 Mustang Way (off North Courtenay Parkway, 32953). The 3 p.m. concert will feature a variety of light musical marches, along with salutes to baseball, Star Trek and more.

Favorite composers Leroy Anderson and The March King, John Phillip Sousa, are well represented.

The afternoon concert is free, with no ticket required and no reserved seating. A past winner of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Scroll Award for musical excellence, the Community Band of Brevard is directed by former military bandleader Robin Kessler.

For Community Band of Brevard conductor Robin Kessler, A Spring Fling on March 12 is a great way to kick off Daylight Savings Time.

“It will be a mix of various styles of music,” said Kessler. “Like the title says, it is a ‘Fling.’ What better way to ‘spring forward’ and enjoy the extra hour of sunshine than with a great band concert?”

In 1999, the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the prestigious Sudler Silver Scroll Award to the Community Band of Brevard for “demonstrating particularly high standards of excellence in concert activities.”

For more information, contact Community Band of Brevard at 321- 258-5580, visit CommunityBandOfBrevard.com, or connect with them on Facebook.

To sign up for concert alerts, patrons can complete a form at the concert or send an email to info@CommunityBandofBrevard.com

Formed in 1985 by Marion Scott, The Community Band of Brevard performs several high-quality, free public concerts yearly.

Musical selections include classical, jazz, show tunes, contemporary music, big band arrangements, and original compositions, often featuring talented guest artists.  In 2021, retired Army Band Commander Rob Kessler assumed conducting duties for the 65-member Community Band of Brevard.

Musicians are all-volunteer players with diverse musical backgrounds. The non-profit group is a past recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Silver Scroll Award for musical excellence and cultural leadership. More information about The Community Band of Brevard is available on their Facebook page, at CommunityBandOfBrevard.com, or by calling 321-258-5580.

Rob Kessler follows the tradition of great military bandleaders. After six years as an active duty Army saxophonist, he studied at The Ohio State University and received a degree in Music Education. Kessler taught school band for ten years and worked in music retail for another 12 years. All the while, he served as an Army Band commander in the Army Reserve and Ohio Army National Guard.

Kessler finished his military career in the Honor Guard and as a Deputy Senior Bandmaster for the National Guard, retiring in 2016 with the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5 after 42 years of service. He currently lives in Merritt Island, Florida, and works on Patrick Space Force Base.

He is married to Central Florida Winds clarinetist Judy Kessler, whom he met in the 338th Army Reserve Band. Their son Derek and daughter Erin continue the family tradition and serve in the 122nd Ohio Army National Guard Band.

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