Our Story

For many years, local musicians felt the need for a well-instrumented wind band to com-pliment the outstanding orchestral and operatic instrumental ensembles available in the greater Binghamton area. Because such an ensemble would require cooperation from a large number of musicians without compensation, a telephone poll was taken to determine the viability of such an endeavor. The response from musicians was overwhelmingly in favor.

Consequently, in the summer of 1994, the Southern Tier Concert Band was formed under the direction of Samuel Cifonelli with a personnel list that included many of the finest musicians in our area. While the purpose of its very existence is to allow accomplished adult musicians to perform band compositions in an exceptional ensemble, the focus has been to give student musi-cians an opportunity to hear a band they could emulate. In the case of concerts such as tonight’s, the Southern Tier Concert Band affords students the experience of performing in a professional-level ensemble, and shows them that such groups indeed exist and are waiting for them in college and afterward.

The majority of STCB members are musicians who perform professionally and/or teach music, either privately or in our public schools. Nonetheless, many of our members are also avo-cational musicians, working in (or retired from) a very wide variety of careers, with music as their common bond. Some members travel as far as 100 miles round trip in order to participate in two-hour rehearsals twice monthly. The band’s repertoire includes marches, overtures, transcriptions, accompanied solos, show tunes, pop music, and original music composed specifically for the wind/concert band representing all periods of music history. Our lead conductor is Mr. Robin Linaberry with associate conductor, Mr. Barry Peters.

In 2014, coinciding with our 20th anniversary, the Southern Tier Concert Band was selected to perform as the featured ensemble at the New York State Band Directors Association’s annual Symposium, and capped off the year with a singular honor: the group was awarded The American Prize in Wind Ensemble/Concert Band Performance: Community Division for 2014.