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BCB - How it All Got Started

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The Birmingham Community Band was founded back in 1977 by Community & Business Leaders with grants from the City of Birmingham.  The story goes that several businessmen and leaders were having coffee at Machus Restaurant following the annual city Michigan Week Parade and decided Birmingham needed a band of their own.  Dave Falvay, an insurance business owner, was the musician in the group that made it all happen and became the first President of the band.

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Don Hillman, the acting musical director at Seaholm High School, was hired and rehearsals started at Seaholm in the summer of 1977 on Wednesday nights from 7:30 - 9:30 (we still rehearse on that day and time!).  The band’s first concert was at Shain Park on August 21, 1977. (See attached program!)

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Also, Dave Falvay formed the Straw Hat Band, now known as the BCB Entertainers, or BCBE, with the purpose of raising money in the community for student scholarships to Interlochen.  The first student scholarships were awarded in 1979.

 

Here is a clip of Dave Falvay (founding member) directing the Straw Hat Band, with Rob Olson (charter member) performing a solo!​