Birmingham
Concert Band
About BCB
Our Mission
The Birmingham Concert Band is dedicated to fostering an appreciation of and desire for good music, and to promote music and the musical arts by education and charitable means. The BCB encourages lifelong musical learning by specifically encouraging inactive musicians to once again take part in an organized musical group and is committed to providing high quality and enjoyable musical performances of great variety for its audiences.
Our History
In 1977, several Birmingham community leaders were having coffee at Machus Restaurant, following the annual city Michigan Week Parade, and decided that Birmingham needed a band of its own. Soon after, the Birmingham Community Band was formed, and one of those community leaders, Dave Falvay, a insurance business owner and talented trombone player, became the first President of the band.
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With the generous support of the City of Birmingham, Don Hillman, the acting musical director at Seaholm High School, was hired as the band's first Director of Music, and rehearsals started at Seaholm in the summer of 1977 on Wednesday nights from 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM. The band played it's first concert at Shain Park on August 21, 1977.
Our Directors
Patrick Jensen, Director of Music
Patrick Jensen has been an active musician in the Detroit area for most of his life. He attended Wayne State University for both his Undergraduate Degree (Music Education) and Master’s Degree (Conducting, studying with Doug Bianchi). While at Wayne State, Patrick played Trumpet in several ensembles and even was the musical director of the school’s Pep Band for a short time.
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Outside of Wayne State, Patrick has performed and worked with many musical organizations in the area. These ensembles include the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra, The Dearborn Symphony, and the Henry Ford College Big Band amongst others. Patrick also enjoys composing music for a variety of ensembles, including Marching Bands, Concert Bands, Orchestras, Jazz Ensembles and even Rock Bands.​
Currently, Patrick is teaching music classes at Henry Ford College and is also the conductor for the Downriver Community Band. When he really wants to let his hair down, Patrick also performs in various Rock and Jazz groups including a Frank Zappa tribute band that is featured at local music festivals.
Grant Hoemke, Director of Music Emeritus
Grant M. Hoemke served as the Director of Instrumental Music and the Fine Arts Department Head at Farmington High School from 1979 to 1991. He retired in 2005 after a 35-year public school teaching career, the last 26 years for the Farmington Public Schools. In June of 2014 he retired after 33 years as the Director of Music of the Birmingham Concert Band and is now the Director of Music Emeritus.
Grant has served as the acting Director of Bands for Wayne State University and directed their High School Summer Band program. He is also an Associate Conductor of the Saline New Horizons Band, and directs the SNHB Clarinet Choir. A Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association Emeritus Member and adjudicator, Grant has served as a clinician and guest conductor throughout southeast Michigan.
Although primarily a woodwind player specializing in bass clarinet, he is now more likely to be found playing the French horn.