Community Concert Band

The Potomac State College-Community Concert Band is one of two instrumental ensembles that provides students with an outlet for performing music. The Concert Band consists of college students, high school students, and members of our surrounding communities. Our repertoire ranges from standard and contemporary wind band literature to lighter, pops-style tunes.

The Concert Band is a non-auditioned group and is open to all PSC students who have prior experience performing with their high school band program. We rehearse on Tuesday evenings at the Church McKee Art Center and perform a concert at the conclusion of the Fall and Spring semesters. For further information, please contact band director D. Lynn Zeller.

History

The Potomac State College-Community Concert Band was formed in 1982 by Dr. Charles Whitehill, who had directed the college bands since 1961. Before Whitehill, the bands were conducted by Phillip Faini beginning in 1959, who was the first full-time band director at the college. At that time there was an all male ROTC band, a stage band and a concert band. In 1982, Dr. Whitehill decided to form a college community band that would allow college musicians as well as community and public school musicians to perform. The response was good and the band has continued to present concerts at the Church McKee Auditorium for the past thirty years.

Since his retirement in 1996, Dr. Whitehill has continued to perform with the band. Upon Dr. Whitehill’s retirement, Fred Kesner was named the band’s second director and led the group for ten successful years. Roger Walker was named the band’s third director in 2006. Mr. Walker has served as a band director and administrator for Mineral County Schools.

Director

D. Lynn Zeller serves as the director of the Potomac State College-Community Concert Band. He earned both a Bachelor and Master Degree from Frostburg State University and has supervised more than 40 student interns through the university. He is a founding member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia chapter on the campus. He is retired after 37 years of teaching as the band director at Braddock Middle School in Cumberland, Maryland, where the bands consistently received Superior ratings at the local, regional, and state level. Mr. Zeller was selected "Teacher of the Year" at Braddock Middle School in 1995, was selected for the Allegany County Board of Education Commendation for "Uncompromising Dedication to Excellence", and is included in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers" in 1994 and 2000. He has performed with and conducted many groups and ensembles in the area for more than 50 years. He is currently serving in his 28th year as director of the Potomac Concert Band, a summer community band based in Cumberland.