About the Greater Des Moines Community Band

The Greater Des Moines Community Band was established in October 1987 by Dr. Carroll Childs who was then Supervisor of Music for the Des Moines Public Schools.  The second conductor as Jimmy Selland, retired Coordinator of Music for the West Des Moines Community Schools.  In the fall of 1991, Vic Anderson became Music Director and in 2011, David Lilijedahl became  our Music Director.  Our assistant conductor, Ms. Christa Miller, a member of the euphonium section, is Director of Bands at Mt. Olive Lutheran School.  The band has grown from 20 members to the present 60+ who range in age from 16 to 81.  The band rehearses for 1 1/2 hours each Monday in preparation for the Fall, Winter and Spring Sunday concerts and to prepare for the annual Summer Concert Series.  Due to popular demand, the summer concert series has grown to some 14 performances throughout the greater Des Moines area, including Adel, Norwalk, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Boone, Indianola, Bondurant and the Iowa State Fair.