The Hendersonville Community Band will present its 31st holiday concert, “Sounds of the Season,” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, at Blue Ridge Conference Hall at BRCC.
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Guest soprano soloist Mary Beth Brody will join the band and lead the audience for "The Star-Spangled Banner" and a Christmas Pop Sing-A-Long. Solo pieces with band accompaniment are "On with the Snow!" "Still, Still, Still" and "Grown-Up Christmas List." Brody holds a master’s degree in choral conducting and voice pedagogy from Loyola University. She moved to the area in 2000 and continues an active career in conducting choral groups and as a vocalist.
The guest conductor on this concert, Chris Wilson, is no stranger to Hendersonville as he grew up here and graduated from Hendersonville High School. Wilson earned his masters in conducting from Northern Arizona University and was an outstanding band director for many years. A few years ago, he changed his emphasis and is currently finishing his doctorate in school administration while serving as assistant principal at HHS. Wilson will conduct "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and play in the trumpet and percussion sections.
HCB's conductor and musical director for the past 12 seasons, Winford Franklin, will be on the podium for additional numbers including "Away in a Manger," "It Came upon a Midnight Clear," "Mary’s Little Boy Child," "Greensleeves" and more.
Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance from Henderson County Visitors Center and Crate Wine Market in Laurel Park. Tickets are also available at the door. For more information call 828-713-8590.

Bill Locklear (b. 1947) has composed at the professional, community, university and public school levels for over forty years including many commissioned works. Mr. Locklear was asked in 1993 to arrange music for the Atlanta Braves World Series homecoming party and in 1996 Mr. Locklear’s compositions were featured at the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games. His music is published by TRN Music and Arrangers Publishing Company. Memberships include ASCAP, National Band Association, NAfME, Georgia Music Educators Association and Epsilon Nu chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.


During his thirty-year music education career Mr. Locklear served at the elementary, middle and high school levels. He was twice named “S.T.A.R. Teacher” for the Effingham County school system and selected for “Who’s Who in Teaching” three times. He holds the Bachelor of Science in Education from Jacksonville State University and is a frequent guest conductor in the southeastern United States.


As a performer Mr. Locklear has appeared as a professional bassist for over five decades, appearing with such diverse entertainers as Bob Hope, Frankie Avalon, Frank Gorshen, Dick Shawn, Rita Moreno, Buddy Grecco, Rich Little, Carol Channing, Kate Smith, Kay Starr and jazz musicians Jerry Coker, Clark Terry, Joe Morello, Jimmy Heath, Tom Ferguson, Joe Jones and Slide Hampton. He is the conductor/music director for popular singer Curtis Reed and currently performs with the Clocktower Jazz Ensemble, the Cobb New Horizons Jazz Ensemble and leads his own jazz trio. Mr. Locklear resides in Kennesaw, Georgia with his wife and two children.

Thirty-two seasons ago, well-known band director and symphony conductor Jim Stokes placed an ad in the Times News inviting interested musicians to meet about starting a community band. He was hopeful that 12-15 people might show up. Over 50 people, instruments in hand, showed up and HCB was born! This celebration concert has twice been delayed by covid, so it is now our 32nd season, but our 30th celebration.
In commemoration of this special event, HCB commissioned Bill Locklear to arrange the piece, “Balm in Gilead,” which will be premiered at the concert Oct. 16. Locklear will conduct this new piece and some other works of his “Lullabye” and “A Praetorius Hymn.”
HCB long-time Music Director and Conductor, Winford Franklin, will be conducting the ever-exciting “Procession of the Nobles” (Rimsky-Korsakov), Selections from “Les Miserables” (arr. Warren Barker), “The Beatles: Echoes of an Era” (arr. John Higgins) as well as “Queen City Suite” (Charles Carter),  a three-movement composition representing life the Midwest.
HCB hopes you can join us for this special celebration concert on Sunday, October 16, 3:00 pm, Blue Ridge Community College Conference Hall. Tickets are $10.00 and may be purchased in advance from The Hendersonville Visitors Information Center, Crate Wine Market in Laurel Park, or at the door. For more information call 828-713-8590. HCB especially invites all former members of the band and Charter Members to attend!

2022/2023 Concert Season
October 16th, 2022 at 3:00pm
December 11th, 2022 at 3:00pm 
March 5th, 2023 at 3:00pm 
April 30th, 2023 at 3:00pm ​

Tickets: Adults $10; Students Free. (Taxes included)

The hall has open seating and there is plenty of free handicap accessible parking behind the hall. Tickets are available from Hendersonville Visitors Information Center on Main St., the Crate Wine Market, Laurel Park, at the door on the day, or from any band member.​
Mask Protocol for 10/16 ConcertBlue Ridge Community College has changed their mask policy from required to optional, with a very strong recommendation that masks be worn in large group settings. Thank you for your consideration and protection of our community. 

Blue Ridge Community College has recently changed its mask policy from required to optional, with a very strong recommendation that masks be worn in large group settings. ​

Blue Ridge Community College has recently changed its mask policy from required to optional, with a very strong recommendation that masks be worn in large group settings. In keeping with this new policy of the college, masks will be optional at our December 5 concert, but also with the recommendation that masks be worn. Proof of vaccination or a negative covid test result as on December 3rd, 4th or 5th is still required. Thank you all so very much for your support and understanding in these difficult times. We are so humbled to be playing for you once again! 

The Hendersonville Community Band is delighted to announce their return, under the baton of Winford Franklin, to the Concert Stage on December 5, 2021 with “Sounds of the Season,” a collection of Holiday music to warm your hearts. Among the selections, you will hear favorites including “Silent Night,” “The First Noel,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Midnight Sleighride,” “A Most Wonderful Christmas,” “When St. Nick Comes Marching In,” and “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” A premier performance by a newly formed Flute Choir comprised of HCB members and an audience sing-a-along will add to the enjoyment.
The performance will be on stage in the Technology Building at Blue Ridge Community College. Tickets are available at the Chamber of Commerce, The Crate Wine Market, and at the door. Adults are $10.00 and students are free. Masks and vaccination proof or a negative rapid test the day of or the day before the concert are required of audience members. HCB members performing in this concert are all fully vaccinated. Please check the HCB website HCBmusic.com for any updates.

The HCB Board of Directors met on the evening of 9/7 and, after very careful consideration of many factors pertaining to the safety and well-being of our members, their families, and the community at large, made the decision to cancel the October concert and the rehearsals leading up to the concert. As we all very much want to play together, this was a difficult decision and we, like you, are disappointed.

Thank you as always for your patience and support. 
Stay safe and be well.

-HCB Board of Directors

We finally have concert dates for our 2021/2022 season! We have really missed you all and are very excited to be playing for you once again. This is an exciting year for us as we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary in our 31st year! 

​Here are the long awaited concert dates.
Blue Ridge Community College in the Conference Hall.
October 24th, 2021 at 3:00pm 
December 5th, 2021 at 3:00pm 
March 6th, 2022 at 3:00pm 
May 1st, 2022 at 3:00pm 

Tickets: Adults $10; Students Free. (Taxes included)

The hall has open seating and there is plenty of free handicap accessible parking behind the hall. Tickets are available from Hendersonville Visitors Information Center on Main St., the Crate Wine Market, Laurel Park, at the door on the day, or from any band member.

We can't wait to see you all again. And thank you for your continued love for music and the support of this community band.