The Boulder Concert Band is delighted to embark on another exceptional season under the esteemed guidance of our Musical Director and Conductor, Mr. Jon Borodach. We eagerly anticipate the remarkable accomplishments that will be realized under Mr. Borodach’s leadership.
TUBACHRISTMAS®, a component of the Boulder Freezie Fest on December 14, 2024, was a resounding success. Approximately 70 musicians participated, and around 200 spectators were captivated by the performance.
Donations are always appreciated! To make a donation now to the Boulder Concert Band, please click this secure link. You will be asked to create a free account to manage your tickets and donations to the Boulder Concert Band.
Sandra McMillen Sartin passed away on January 24, 2025, following a long illness. In 2018, Sandra was awarded Honorary Boulder Concert Band Board Member for Life, the first award of its kind in our band’s history. Sandy was the proud daughter of the late Hugh McMillen, founder of today’s Boulder Concert Band, and former CU director of bands. Sandy was a band member (French Horn) at various times until her father stepped down from his directorship in 1986. After living in Oklahoma for 23 years (and playing with the Boulder Concert Band occasionally in the summers), she returned to Boulder, and the Boulder Concert Band, in 2015. She remained an active member of our Board of Directors. Sandy’s passion for the Boulder Concert Band (and the French Horn!) continued to the end. We are profoundly grateful for Sandy’s legacy.
Join the Band!
The Boulder Concert Band is always looking for skilled and interested musicians.
Please email us and we will put you in touch with the appropriate section leader to audition. See Auditioning for the Band below.
A Nationally Award-Winning Band
For the fifth straight year, the Boulder Concert Band was recognized as a finalist in the American Prize competition for the Band/Wind Ensemble Performance—Community Division, 2023-2024. The American Prize recognizes exceptional artistic achievement in the United States. The Band achieved first place in 2020, and third place in 2021.
This year, we submitted “Homage: Three Tapestries” by David R. Holsinger: “Tapestry One (allegro)”, “Tapestry Two (adagio moderato)”, “Tapestry Three (allegro vivo)” from our April 15, 2023 concert, under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Singleton.
Jon Borodach has enjoyed a diverse career as a conductor, educator, instrumentalist, and arranger working with student, professional and passionate amateur musicians. Before joining the Boulder Concert Band, Mr. Borodach was a student of Dr. Kenneth Singleton at the University of Northern Colorado, where he is in the dissertation
phase of completing the degree of Doctor of Arts. While at UNC, Mr. Borodach served as the conductor of the Symphonic Band following the retirements of Dr. Singleton and Dr.
Richard Mayne and he has worked closely with the current UNC Director of Bands, Dr. Wesley Broadnax.
“I count these three men among my strongest musical mentors and good friends,” commented Jon.
Additionally, Mr. Borodach was Principal Conductor and Music
Director of the Thornton Community Band from 2011 to 2018, programming engaging and enriching concerts for audiences from Thornton and the North Metro area.
Born and raised in Southern California, Mr. Borodach was the Director of Instrumental Music at Grossmont High School in La Mesa, California, a suburb located in eastern San Diego County where, under his baton, the Grossmont ensembles
consistently earned Superior ratings at regional music festivals and contests. During his tenure at GHS Mr. Borodach led student ensembles on concert tours of Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York and San Francisco. Graduates from the Grossmont High School music program have earned scholarships to study music at the University of North Texas, the University of Nebraska, the University of Arizona, the University of California at Los Angeles and at several California State University campuses.
From 2001-2004 Mr. Borodach served as the Associate Conductor of the San Diego Wind Ensemble, a wind band comprised of freelance professional musicians. Mr. Borodach has served as an
adjudicator and clinician for the Southern California School Band Orchestra Association and as a Master Teacher for prospective music educators from Point Loma Nazarene
University and San Diego State University.
In addition to his work on the concert stage, Mr. Borodach has extensive musical theatre experience as a conductor and pit musician
working with multiple theater companies in the San Diego area. Mr. Borodach holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from San Diego State University.
Mr. Borodach is committed to performing the highest quality works in the wind band repertoire. Furthermore, he has been a champion of new music, performing several
new works by young composers as well having been pivotal in the commissioning of new music by renowned composers, including “Some Give All” by David Holsinger, “Give Us This Day” by David Maslanka, and “Baron La Croix’s Shuffle” by Donald Grantham. Mr. Borodach makes his home in Fort Collins, Colorado with his wife, Kara, and two daughters, Madeleine and Rebecka.
“I greatly enjoy working with adult musicians who gather together simply to play music and to enjoy the shared experience of artistry, camaraderie and friendship,” declared Jon. We look forward to making some great music together!
L to R (back): Tim Hughes, Stephen Bray, Heather Sotiros; (front) Jon Borodach (Director), Bernard Buster, Marilyn Weston Kroner, Sheri A. VandeRiet. Not shown: Stephanie Morse, Barbara Munin. Photo by Barry Kroner, 2024
Bernard Buster, President
Marilyn Weston Kroner, Vice President and Email Wrangler
Sheri A. VandeRiet, Secretary and Webmaster
Stephen Bray, Treasurer
Board Members At-Large:
Tim Hughes
Stephanie Morse
Barbara Munin
Heather Sotiros
Our concerts would not take place if it were not for the many generous people who volunteer their time.
Many thanks to: ♥ Marilyn Kroner for getting the word out to the community about our upcoming events, and for coordinating our volunteers.
♥ Barbara Christopher, Music Librarian, for managing and organizing all our folders and music so efficiently.
♥ Aaron Jordan and Sheri A. VandeRiet for designing and maintaining our website.
♥ Stephanie Morse for poster designs.
♥ Faith Gowan for our concert-schedule bookmarks.
♥ Heather Sotiros for organizing our summer concert schedule, including the Memorial Weekend Remembrance Concert and the Sweet Cow MooMobile.
♥ Marilyn Kroner for contributing program and website content.
♥ Mary Malley for designing a Stage Plot to help us with setup.
♥ Mike Taylor, Bernard Buster and Stephen Bray for acting as Stage Managers.
♥ Beth Ornstein and Adam Ornstein for faithfully rounding up the chairs after every rehearsal as well as after our concerts.
♥ Sheri A. VandeRiet for season program and concert program design, and for setting up concert tickets.
♥ Peter Gowan for his many years of dedication to the Boulder Concert Band, both in the Tuba section and on the Board.
♥ Lyn Mead, for expanding our knowledge of the history of the Boulder Concert Band.
♥ Andy Schwartz of Soaring Light Images wonderful group photos of the Boulder Concert Band.
♥ Don Puscher for standing in as band photographer for the October, 2023 concert.
♥ Peter Ingram, for taking on the daunting task of ”band van manager.“
♥ Sylvia Taylor and Cheryl Appell, for coordinating Stage Setup.
Acknowledgments:
Michael Quam, Quam Audio, for concert recording.
Mason Design, for our new logo and brand identity redesign. The Publishing House, for printing our beautiful Season Programs.
Anyone who is eligible for membership can join the band following an audition. If you would like to audition for the band, email us and let us know! Prospective new members are encouraged to attend an orientation session, if available, before our first rehearsal in the fall. This is an opportunity to meet the conductor and to learn about the audition process. A brief audition with the section principal and the conductor will be held at a subsequent rehearsal. Has it been a while since you have played? Consider starting out during our summer session which has a more relaxed atmosphere.
Membership and Expectations
Members of the Boulder Concert Band are drawn from the community at large. To be a member in good standing one must be at least 18 years of age (unless approved by the conductor and the board). There are three types of membership:
Active - Dues-paying members in good standing, who attend a majority of the rehearsals and performances during a concert season. Active members may hold office, serve on committees and take an active part in all business and social affairs of the Boulder Concert Band. Inactive - Members who, for personal or professional reasons, do not meet at least one of the two criteria for being an active member. Inactive members may not be able to participate in the activities and membership of the Boulder Concert Band. Honorary - Members who are non-dues-paying personnel who are generally recognized as outstanding in their field, or have performed an outstanding service for the Boulder Concert Band. It is not necessary for an honorary member to possess any qualifications as a musician.
Jon Borodach has enjoyed a diverse career as a conductor, educator, instrumentalist, and arranger working with student, professional and passionate amateur musicians. Before joining the Boulder Concert Band, Mr. Borodach was a student of Dr. Kenneth Singleton at the University of Northern Colorado, where he is in the dissertation
phase of completing the degree of Doctor of Arts. While at UNC, Mr. Borodach served as the conductor of the Symphonic Band following the retirements of Dr. Singleton and Dr.
Richard Mayne and he has worked closely with the current UNC Director of Bands, Dr. Wesley Broadnax.