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43rd Season
2024-2025
About River Cities Concert Band
The River Cities Concert Band was formed in 1982 by then Otsego Public Schools Band Director, James J. Hewitt, as an outreach of the Otsego Public Schools Community Education program. His intent was to give the area's post high school musicians an opportunity to continue to develop their musical skills in what was then called the Otsego Plainwell Community Band. Over the past 43 concert seasons, the band has been home to several hundred area musicians. The band has grown from a small group of players over the years into an excellent ensemble with 65 people on the roster. Mr. Hewitt retired from the Otsego Public Schools in 1984 and continued as the band's director until he retired from that post in 2014. Under his foresight and leadership, the band struck out on its own in 2005 to form its new Board of Directors and take on its current name. From day one we have enjoyed a wonderful relationship with the Otsego Schools. We are forever grateful for their support and free use of the Middle School Auditorium as our rehearsal hall. Mr. Hewitt in 2001 brought on then member of the band and retired band director, David J. Hubbard, as his assistant director. Mr. Hubbard took over as full-time director in 2014 upon Mr. Hewitt's retirement. Through the leadership of both directors, the band is now a wonderful organization full of great musicians that emphasizes family atmosphere and fellowship which makes the RCCB member experience special. Everyone in this band is an MVP!
The band rehearses at the Otsego Middle School Auditorium which we call home! Rehearsals are held every Monday night during the school year from 7-9 pm. Concerts are held in October, December, February and May. We conclude our concert season with a show at the band shell in Plainwell on the Wednesday after Memorial Day for our host the Plainwell Music Society. Each of our concerts is themed where you never know what special effect may be in store, such as a vocalist or instrumentalist, all served up with great staging, special lighting and even a slideshow or video projected above the band. You will be greeted by our Master of Ceremonies and treated to an intermission where we serve punch and cookies with the area decorated in the theme of that particular show. We refer to our concerts as shows and all are by free-will donation.
The band rehearses at the Otsego Middle School Auditorium which we call home! Rehearsals are held every Monday night during the school year from 7-9 pm. Concerts are held in October, December, February and May. We conclude our concert season with a show at the band shell in Plainwell on the Wednesday after Memorial Day for our host the Plainwell Music Society. Each of our concerts is themed where you never know what special effect may be in store, such as a vocalist or instrumentalist, all served up with great staging, special lighting and even a slideshow or video projected above the band. You will be greeted by our Master of Ceremonies and treated to an intermission where we serve punch and cookies with the area decorated in the theme of that particular show. We refer to our concerts as shows and all are by free-will donation.
James J. Hewitt
