Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Stephens.
Hi Mark, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Motor City Brass Band (MCBB) is a 32 member British-style brass band that performs in a variety of venues throughout the year in a wide range of musical styles from classical to jazz, pop to sacred. MCBB continues to musically define itself as an innovative and integral part of the growing national brass band movement.
MCBB was established in 1996 by John Aren, a Salvation Army officer and former member of the then National Champion Illinois Brass Band. The band’s first Music Director and Conductor was Craig Strain who served as conductor, arranger and composer for 25 years. In 2021 when he was named Music Director Emeritus. In 2022 Gordon Ward assumed the Interim Conductor position with the band in January 2022, and then accepted the permanent position as Music Director and Conductor in June of that same year.
MCBB has a long tradition of participation in brass band competitions. The band annually participates in the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Championships and, in 2019, was named runner-up in the Second Section. After a two-year hiatus because of COVID, the NABBA Championships resumed in 2022 where, for the first time in the band’s history, MCBB took First Place in the Second Section. In 2005 MCBB participated in the US Open Brass Band Championship and won the award for Best Performance of a March (Death or Glory) as well as taking Second Place in the overall competition. In 2022 MCBB again participated in the US Open Brass Band Championship and won the first of its three consecutive Challenge Section Awards. In 2025 MCBB participated in its first Dublin (Ohio) Festival of Brass and won the awards for best performance of a march, best performance of a slow melody piece, and best performance of a major work, in addition to taking the overall prize for the Challenge Section. MCBB also won its fifth consecutive Detroit Music Award as the Outstanding Classical Small Ensemble in 2023.
The band has also been recognized for its musical excellence by being invited to perform as the state representative for Michigan State Day at Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC in 2001. In the following years MCBB was invited to perform at many events, including several years with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at Greenfield Village for the annual Salute To America concerts.
MCBB continues to spread a love of the brass band sound and philosophy throughout the State of Michigan, and in 2010, inaugurated the Motor City Festival of Bands. This event has brought together some of the finest community and brass bands from across Michigan to perform separately, and as a massed band. Conducting the massed bands have been such notable figures as Leonard Slatkin, Music Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, William Himes, noted composer and conductor, and Colonel Thomas Palmatier, retired commander of the US Army Band (Pershing’s Own).
To further the British brass band tradition, Motor City Youth Brass Band was established in 2006 under the umbrella of the MCBB organization. Its outgrowth, Motor City Academy Brass Band now carries on that tradition, and in 2022 made its first appearance at the North American Brass Band Championships taking first place in the Open Section.
Through its performances across the region, events such as the Motor City Festival of Bands, and numerous school outreach concerts, Motor City Brass Band is certainly living up to its motto, “It’s more than a concert, it’s a SHOW!”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As an all volunteer organization there are always challenges in maintaining personnel, raising operating funds, and booking performances. Through the years MCBB has had a number of very talented members step up to answer these challenges, and we look forward to continuing our tradition of presenting entertaining, fun, and musically challenging programs both in our performances in Southeast Michigan, but also in competition.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Motor City Brass Band works hard to present programs to our audiences that provides a balance of musical styles and genres. One of the things that sets us apart from other brass and wind bands is our ability to surprise and entertain our audiences with the unexpected. In the past MCBB had presented programs that range from Bach to Queen. This diversity of music is what makes brass bands in general, and MCBB in particular, unique.
Any big plans?
While MCBB is not looking to make any big changes in the future, we are continuously working on musical excellence. No performing ensemble can ever settle for where they are, and MCBB Musical Director and Conductor Gordon Ward is constantly pushing the band forward. The programs and competition music we have planned for our 2025-2026 season will push the band musically to even higher levels.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.mcbb.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motorcitybrass/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotorCityBrassBand
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@motorcitybrassband4016
