The Fresno Community Concert Band was created in 1993 to provide musical opportunities to adult musicians.

The concept of the band took a full year to come to life and when it did, the response was larger than anticipated.

“We simply put out a bulletin that said ‘We’re forming a band, come join us, figuring, we’d get 12-15 people show up and 35 people showed up,” said Robert Nielsen, FCCB conductor and part-time instructor at Fresno City College. “It’s just grown since then and we now have close to 80 members.”

The band’s size has become an issue when performing in venues such as the Tower Theatre. Since there is not enough room to add each player that wishes to become a part of the band, the FCCB has begun screening the players.

“Several years back we had to stop adding members because we were playing concerts in the Tower Theatre and the stage is not big enough,” said Nielsen. “So now when we add players they are strong players, very strong players. Not just someone off the street.”

The caliber of the players involved in the band has increased greatly over the years as the screening process has been implemented. Many of the players are retirees that are there for their own enjoyment and just to get a chance to embrace music.

“It is an adult concert band that was formed to provide performance opportunities for musicians after high school or college,” said Nielsen.

Instructors on campus have been featured in the band through various concerts and performances. It has been a way to include the campus faculty since the FCCB is housed here at FCC.

“Mr. [Dale] Engstrom has guest conducted. Mr. [Larry] Honda has helped us out in the woodwind section on just about any instrument we want,” said Nielsen. “City College faculty don’t usually play but we generally try to include them since we are pretty much housed here.”

Engstrom, brass and concert band instructor, describes his experience with the FCCB as something that can be felt by the surrounding community.

“I have guest conducted the FCCB a few times. It was a real joy because I know so many of the members and it’s a really great band. Director Bob Nielsen has done a great job in raising the level of this group,” said Engstrom. “They are performing difficult music while keeping a handle on the entertainment value. It’s a great ensemble that this community can be proud of.”

With members of the band being in various stages of life and from the surrounding community, the audience gets a glimpse at the diversity of the band in general. People from all walks of life come together to share their enthusiasm for music.

“The audience finds this interesting. There’s a truck driver in the tuba section but right next to him is a structural engineer,” said Nielsen.

Music, for Nielsen, is always fulfilling but there is something about the band that has him coming back year after year. The group of people and the dedication that each person shows offers a sense of satisfaction.

“This is an incredibly wonderful group of people. They all have day jobs or they are retired so this is something that they do by choice. That’s the most fulfilling thing,” said Nielsen. “They are there because they want to be there and they put up with conductors harassing them because they want it to sound better.”

The FCCB’s next performance will be on March 17 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the FCC Theatre.