WATCH: Community Band of Brevard Opens Season with ‘Player’s Choice’ Sept. 7 at Merritt Island High School Auditorium

Player’s Choice is free with no ticket required and no reserve seating

ABOVE VIDEO: Band Opens Season with ‘Player’s Choice’ Sept. 7 in Merritt Island

BREVARD COUNTY • MERRITT ISLAND, FLORIDA — The Community Band of Brevard continues its milestone 40th anniversary with Player’s Choice on Sunday, September 7, at Merritt Island High School Auditorium, 100 Mustang Way, off of North Courtenay Parkway.

The 3 p.m. season-opening concert will feature musical numbers chosen by the band’s own musicians. The varied program includes ‘Goin’ Home,’ the moving largo theme from Antonín Dvořák’s New World Symphony, along with ‘Variations on a Korean Folk Song’ and ‘Polka and Fugue.’

Also chosen was the ‘Theme from the Incredibles’ as written for the 2004 animated film, whose director wanted a sound that suggested the future, as seen from the 1960s.

Of course, the music of America’s March King, John Philip Sousa, is well represented on the concert, with band members choosing ‘Black Horse Troop,’ ‘Fairest of the Fair’ and ‘Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.’

All these selections and more await the audience of Player’s Choice. A past winner of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Silver Scroll Award for musical excellence, the Community Band of Brevard is directed by former military bandleader, Robin Kessler.

Player’s Choice is free with no ticket required and no reserve seating. For more information, contact Community Band of Brevard at 321 258 5580, or visit CommunityBandOfBrevard.com.

Community Band of Brevard conductor Robin Kessler knows that Player’s Choice will be a hit with the band members, but suspects the audience will enjoy it, too.

“We received a lot of terrific suggestions from the band members for this concert,” said Kessler. “The audience will be treated to a program that has a lot of variety, which really helps showcase the talent of our players.”

Mr. Kessler quickly added, “Some of our musicians have been with the Community Band of Brevard since its very first performance in November of 1985. This is a milestone year for us, and we could not be prouder that residents of Brevard have been coming to our concerts for forty years.”

Musical selections by the 65-member Community Band of Brevard include classical, jazz, show tunes, contemporary music, big band arrangements and original compositions, often featuring talented guest artists.

Musicians are all-volunteer players with diverse musical backgrounds. 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 over a period of several years.”

Formed in 1985 by Marion Scott, The Community Band of Brevard performs several high-quality, free public concerts each year. 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 at CommunityBandOfBrevard.com or by calling 321-258-5580.

Rob Kessler follows in the tradition of great military bandleaders. After six years as an active-duty Army saxophonist, Rob studied at The Ohio State University and received a degree in Music Education. He taught school band for 10 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 the Ohio Army National Guard. Rob finished his military career in the Honor Guard and as a Deputy Senior Bandmaster for the National Guard, retiring in 2016 as the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 5 after 42 years of service.

Rob currently lives in Merritt Island, Florida, and works at 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 both continue the family tradition and serve in the 122nd Ohio Army National Guard Band.

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