The musical event of the holiday season. You will not want to miss this event. It's the ninnth annual Christmas Festival and promises to be just as entertaining as ever.

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Happy Fourth of July. Here's a great pic showing GSB clarinetist Jim Coulson leading the 555th U. S. Air Force Band in a July 4th parade.

MEMORIAL DAY IS A SPECIAL TIME FOR THE GSB. FIRST WE HONOR THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR FREEDOM. THEN WE CELEBRATE THAT FREEDOM WITH ONE ANOTHER.

Gaston Symphonic Band and Cherryville High School Concert Band in Starnes Auditorium. March 24 2018

Karen Fuller Receives President's Award

Long-time member of the Gaston Symphonic Band, Karen Fuller, received the President's Award. Karen has worked tirelessly behind the scene to promote the band and its activities. The presentation was made on April 14, 2018 during the GSB's concert in Kings Mountain. Bill Todd, president, presented the award. Congratulations Karen.

Karen Fuller Receives President's Award

(L-R) John Gunter, Conductor, Janet Spencer, Ben Reavis, Producer

Janet Spencer representing the "Community Foundation of Gaston County" presenting a donation to The Gaston Symphonic Band. The presentation was made before the "Play It Again" concert on 10/13/17. THANK-YOU SO MUCH!!!!

To all who serve and have served; to those who guarantee our freedom; and especially to those who gave all. THANK YOU!

Cherry Blossom Festival 2017

GSB receives special presentations. Pictures below:

Bill Kalbas and his wife attended the Veterans Day Concert of GSB entitled “75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor”. Bill and his wife were thrilled with the concert and story of Navy Band 22. Bill then purchased Molly Kent’s book – “The Last Band of The USS Arizona”. Since the concert and the reading of the book Bill has had many discussions with the concert producer, Ben Reavis.

Five months after seeing the concert Bill contacted Ben, and asked if you could address the band with some important information. At the April 20, 2017 rehearsal, Bill was given his chance to address the entire band. He mesmerized the group with a passionate and emotional presentation.

He began with telling the band how well they performed the Pearl Harbor Concert and how much it impacted him. He went on to tell of a recent trip to Ft. Walton Beach Florida. While visiting there he was able to attend a banquet for WWII survivors. To his utter surprise a gentleman in his nineties took the podium and introduced himself as Pearl Harbor survivor, Francis Emond. He was a member of “Navy Band 8” assigned to the USS Pennsylvania, a short distance from the Arizona. His ship was hit with a torpedo but was not sunk.

Bill was able to speak with him personally and tell him about the GSB’s commemoration of Navy Band 22. Francis was thrilled and explained that he was in Pearl Harbor at the same time and the book confirms that Navy Band 22 watched Navy Band 8 play in a contest on the evening of December 6, 1941. Francis said Navy Band 8 was also assembled for “morning colors” on the fantail for the National Anthem at 8:00 AM of December 7, 1941, when the bombs fell.

Bill presented the Gaston Symphonic Band with a signed poster from Francis L. Emond, USN Band 8. The poster and especially the heartfelt story will be a long-lasting memory for the band.

Thanks Bill,

Ben Reavis, Concert Producer

The 75th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor Survivor, Francis L. Emond

Sweet Sounds of Spring Concert Photos Thank You Richard Abernethy

Our 24th Season!

The 7th Annual Christmas Festival December 9, 2016

Pearl Harbor Tribute Concert

A Look Back... Belmont Abbey June 2010
Julius Barkley and John Gunter, Conducting

A Blast From the Past... Belmont Abbey June 2010

"Great concert as always. Favorite number was In the Mood"... Darren Honeycutt.

Mark Ewing: Spring Student Conductor at WCU.

Starnes Auditorium in Cherryville April 16

Thanks for your comments:

April 2016

Thank you to the GSB for including the GSO in your spring concerts. ...I enjoyed playing violin with you, and the wonderful sound around me. So many talented musicians, and thank you to John Gunter, conductor, for leading us in some very exciting and moving music. We missed Casey Bork sharing the podium, who conducted the GSO this past season, and hope and pray for a full recovery from a recent sudden illness. Wonderful having so many students performing with us!
Nancy Wooten Brown

Another night of beautiful music.
Elizabeth Payne Seay

It was a great performance. You all are amazing.
Kay Thomas Crow

Beautiful roses given to me at last night's Gaston Symphonic Band concert. I'm retiring at the end of the season from a wonderful band that I love. It's overwhelming to see the love and appreciation extended to me from this band.

Debra Hoffman

December 13, 2015

I am so proud of Bethany Broesder, elementary music teacher at Northside Christian Academy. She totally rocked these bells in last Friday night's performance by the Gaston Symphonic Band. A highlight of the night was her part in the finale "Russian Christmas Music" by Alfred Reed. We are so blessed to have Fine Arts faculty who are not only great teachers but talented artists in their own right.

Susan Renstrom

December 12, 2015

An over the top concert!! Many thanks to all members of Gaston Symphonic Band & Exodus Hand bell Choir for a delighful night of beautiful Christmas music.

Barbara Warlick

October 25, 2015

WELL DONE !!

Congratulations on a terrific concert last night, the sound was great and the audience was appreciative. The program handout was beautiful and professionally done. I thought the announcer was enjoyable, and had a good sense of humor.

I had a very enjoyable experience you should all be proud.

Casey Bork
Director
Gaston String Orchestra

South Point High School
Band Students Participating in GSB Spring Concert

Front Row:
Christopher Seay, Stephanie Ewing, Jasmine Stokes, Jade Harris, Sophia Pons
Back Row:
Mark Ewing, Tim Hamilton -SPHS Band Director, John Gunter, GSB Director — South Point High School Band Students Participating in GSB Spring Concert

Front Row: Christopher Seay, Stephanie Ewing, Jasmine Stokes, Jade Harris, Sophia Pons Back Row: Mark Ewing, Tim Hamilton -SPHS Band Director, John Gunter, GSB Director

MARK EWING HONORED AT WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

The GSB is proud to have Mark Ewing as a member. He has anchored our Tuba section for ten years. He and his family should be proud that Mark's musical and leadership abilities are being honored. Congratulations, Mark Ewing!

Ken Herring, 3rd from the right, accepts a grant from The Community Foundation of Gaston County. This insures the GSB will be able to have a full season of music for everyone to enjoy.

Early Pictures From Tricks and Treats.

Experiencing a GSB concert is exciting and exhilarating. Each one is unique in both music selection, instrumentation and presentation. The band may use a full choir, dancers, strings, soloists, ensembles, even bell ringers and who could forget the BOOM of live cannons. Service to Gaston County is important to the band. You may see them at a veterans program at Memorial Park, entertaining at the Christmas Tree lighting in Downtown Gastonia, dedicating a monument on main street and even delighting the crowd at the Yule Log festival in McAdenville.

The band extends a sincere thank you to the loyal fans that enthusiastically attend their events. Thank you to the donors and sponsors that allow the band to concentrate on being the best they can be. If you are reading this and have not been to a GSB concert. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!! It is awesome and it is always offered at no charge! Please get out and support YOUR band. Make sure to come up afterwards and say hello when you are there.

The finest musicians, equipment, music, conductors, instructors and the pride of accomplishment makes up your band.

Join the Band

One of the GSB’s underlying goals is to provide an outlet for musicians that were part of a High School or College band who want to continue to use their talents. The band today consists of professional performers, former military bandsmen, band directors and teachers. Also, intermediate players have found a place to hone their skills along with those who have decided to get the horn out of the closet and renew their gift of music.

All adults are welcome without an audition. Students are asked to bring a note from their band director recommending them. The GSB band director will determine fit, suitability and need for the particular instrument in the band. Section leaders and directors provide coaching at all levels. Registration and dues are required for each member. If you want to join, show up at a rehearsal. You can bring your instrument if you like, or just watch your first time. Then join in as you are comfortable. Rehearsals are on each Thursday evening beginning at 7:00 PM at Grier Middle School in Gastonia.

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Delighting children at the first Children's Matinee

Excellence

Excellence is inter-woven in every fiber of the GSB. With the pride that each musician takes as they strive to perfect their art. Or the diligence the director takes in selecting arrangements and ensuring the band is fully prepared to perform. Or the board of director’s attentiveness to the details of the finances, facilities, community service and awareness, adult and student development and much more.

Excellence though is proven by the fruits of the band's labor. Year by year the programs have grown in both complexity and participants. Audiences have grown to fill the largest venues in Gaston County. Funds have been donated each year from partners to keep the music playing. See more about donors on the Donor Tab. When the band receives multiple standing ovations and cries of “bravo” and "more” they know they have made the community proud. The band also knows they are reaching their goals when the best musicians in the area fill their ranks year after year.

Thank you fans of the band, the performers and directors for creating this top provider of the arts known as"The Gaston Symphonic Band".

Concert Producers

Gaston Symphonic Band Concerts have evolved into multi-dimensional shows. The concerts are now often collaborative art productions. The band may call on The Gaston String Orchestra, The Gaston Dance Theater, and even a full choir to enhance a particular event. The effort to put on such a show begins with the choice of a venue, music, theme and partners and flows through marketing, public relations and printing.

Last year the band rolled out a new initiative to improve the quality of concerts and to spread the work load to a team. Concert Producers were created. Some of the producers are seasoned performers that have become experts on particular concerts and will produce that concert each year. New producers are also coming forward to work for their favorite concert.

According to Ben Reavis, last year’s President that rolled out this program, “The producers were vital to the success of the season. I was very pleased to see that the program was enthusiastically renewed for this season with a full complement of producers stepping up to the plate.”

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