Bay Concert Band, also known as “Second Wind,” was the brainchild of Peg Rowley, Dr. James Fenton, James A. Griffiths and Walter Cramer. They placed two articles in The Bay City Times requesting former band students who had graduated from high school to come to the Bay City Central band room to organize a community band.

Seventy-seven musicians attended the first rehearsal in September 1977, under the direction of Walter “Wally” Cramer, and the band has been active ever since. Bay Concert Band is in its 31st year of providing a place for recreational musicians to continue playing after they graduate from an organized school program. The band includes members 18 to 80+ years of age and from all walks of life.

Bay Concert Band has been led by only three conductors since its inception. Walter Cramer led the band for five years, and Robert Story was appointed as the second conductor in 1982, serving in that capacity for 14 years. David Kjellberg was chosen to be the band’s third, and present, conductor in 1996.

Dr. Peter Mc Gee was a charter member of the band, and his untimely death in 1984 led to a memorial scholarship fund that was instituted to help students in their musical endeavors. The band has continued this scholarship program to assist with costs of summer band programs and has expanded to provide musical instruments for local school band programs.

Bay Concert Band performs at least four concerts a year in the Bay City Central Auditorium, as well as a summer concert as part of the Summer Music Series at the World Friendship Shell in Bay City.

BCB has also traveled to play in Goderich, Ontario, Bay City’s sister city, and to Shepherd, Michigan, for the Maple Syrup Festival. We have performed joint concerts with the Midland Concert Band, the Mid-Michigan Concert Band, and were honored to play an inaugural concert in the new Standish-Sterling High School Auditorium. Members of the band also have enjoyed performing as a 1920’s-era small-town band at the River of Time Celebration on Bay City’s waterfront.