Our Story

​Lifelong Learning and Participation

The Coopersville Community Concert Band connects adult musicians through a common love of music and desire for lifelong learning and participation. The band provides a fun atmosphere for individuals to share and develop their musical abilities. The band enriches and connects to the community through live performances of concert band literature for music appreciation and enjoyment.

The Coopersville Community Concert Band (CCCB) was formed in January of 2003 by then Coopersville High School Band director, Luanne DeVries, as a place for adults to continue playing their instruments and provide music to the community. Today, the band is 50+ members strong and rehearses from late August through April. This all-volunteer group provides fine performances at Coopersville High School’s Center Stage Theater in October, December and April, and also travels to senior living centers around the area. During the summer, you will find CCCB members playing in the Alumni Alley Cats Jazz Band.

When I started this group, it was to give our CHS band graduates and other local musicians a place to continue to make music after high school and college, and support the Coopersville Area Public Schools (CAPS) mission statement of being lifelong learners. The band has continued to grow and bring good band music to our community. I am so proud and grateful to be one of the conductors of this fine organization.” ~ Luanne DeVries

“It has been a thrill to see and hear the band grow in musicianship and numbers through the years. What an honor to be associated with great people that totally enjoy making music together.” ~ Tom Harsay

The Coopersville Community Concert Band (CCCB) operates under the umbrella of the Coopersville Area Arts Council (CAAC). The CAAC is a Non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible under section 170 of the IRS Code.

The band is also supported by the Coopersville Rotary and donations from members of the community. Members are all-volunteer. Concerts are free to the public.

Our Conductors

Luanne DeVries

The conductor and founder of the Coopersville Community Concert Band is Luanne DeVries. She has a Bachelor of Music degree from Central Michigan University, and is retired after teaching 37 years in music education, first at Whitehall Public Schools, then Wyoming Public Schools, and, for the last 31 years of her career, at Coopersville Public Schools. She taught band 5-12, elementary music, high school and middle school choirs during her teaching career, but spent the majority of that time teaching high school band. She has been very fortunate to have many outstanding students throughout her career, and this fact led her to start a community band in Coopersville. She always told her students that one of the positive outcomes of being in band is that you are never too old to play your instrument, but realized that there were very few places to play outside of an educational setting. Since its beginning in 2003, the Coopersville Community Concert Band has provided free concerts to the Coopersville area community and a place for area musicians to play their instruments. Luanne is married to husband Doug, and has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. When not doing something musical, she likes to read historical fiction and suspense novels and travel. Contact information: coopersvilleccb@gmail.com or 616-826-7267

Tom Harsay

Tom Harsay is the assistant conductor of the band. Tom lives in Coopersville…

Coopersville Area Arts Council

The CCCB operates under the umbrella of the Coopersville Area Arts Council (CAAC). The CAAC is a local non-profit organization that strives to promote, educate, and develop interest in the arts, craft, and humanities. The CAAC provides opportunities throughout the year including the Coopersville Alley Cats Jazz Band Ice Cream Social and a summer theater camp for kids to name a few and also supports local student talent with performance and scholarship opportunities. Visit www.coopersvillearts.org or check out Coopersville Area Arts Council on Facebook.