Similar to a British-style ensemble, the 25-member Southwestern Michigan College (SMC) Brass Band will perform Thursday evening, June 3, in downtown Dowagiac, presented by the Beckwith Park Summer Concert Series, which opens at 7:30 p.m.

A member of the North American Brass Band Association, SMC’s brass band was founded in January 1992 by its current director, Dr. Jonathan Korzun, who also serves as SMC director of bands.

Dowagiac’s 12-week concert series, co-hosted by the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, was underwritten for the third consecutive year by Huntington Bank through its $6,000 donation to the DDA.
Thursday’s performance is the second segment of this season’s 12-week outdoor fine arts program, which is held at the Haggin-Wimberley Bandstand at the corner of Front and Beeson streets.

The June 3 performance follows on the heels of last week’s season opener that featured Dowagiac Union Schools’ Chamber Choir and Women’s Chorale directed by Jeff Robinson.

Vickie Phillipson, DDA and Chamber program director, who coordinated the summer fine arts program, said she is pleased to welcome the return of SMC’s brass band to this year’s line-up of entertainers.

“One of three bands at SMC, the brass band is composed of community members, who are both amateur and professional musicians; SMC students; and talented area high school students.”