Our History

About 40 years ago, a small teaser article in the News-Sentinel announced the forming of a community band and invited interested parties to dig their horns from the depths of their closets, dust them off, and bring them to the Neff Hall auditorium at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) to be in a concert band.  Thirty-five musicians, many who had not touched their instruments since their days in high school or college bands, showed up at that first rehearsal in November 1979.  The result was the Fort Wayne Area Community Band. 

The man who had the idea to start the ensemble, and served as its conductor for seven years, was Dr. William Schlacks.  As director of instrumental music at IPFW, he made it possible for the newly established band to practice every Tuesday night at IPFW.  Schlacks helped them establish an internal governing organization and elect officers for a board of directors. 

From its inception, the Fort Wayne Area Community Band has brought high-quality live music to the surrounding communities, performing at local venues such as Foellinger Theater, Embassy Theatre, Civic Theatre, and Auer Auditorium (on the campus of IPFW).  The Fort Wayne Area Community Band has also performed in the Elkhart Festival of Bands, the Indiana State Music Educators Association Conference in Indianapolis, and annual graduation ceremonies of Ivy Tech State College and the University of St. Francis.

FWACB Conductors

Current Conductors

Dr. Scott Humphries

Principal Conductor

Dr. Scott Humphries serves as associate professor of music, and Director of Bands and Music Education at Manchester University. He is the founding director of both the Gold and Black Attack basketball pep band and The Spartan Pride Marching Band. He conducts the university symphonic band, jazz ensemble, and teaches music education courses. He also teaches saxophone and clarinet. He is also the principal conductor for the Fort Wayne Area Community Band. In addition, he was the artistic director and conductor of the Manchester Symphony Orchestra for 12 years.

Humphries earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music education at Boston University. He received a Master of Arts in Education from Virginia Tech, and a Bachelor of Music Education from James Madison University. He studied saxophone with Gunnar Mossblad. He studied piano with Marion Perkins, Mary Louise Hallauer, and Ruth Slenczynska. He studied conducting with Patrick Rooney and James Glazebrook. His research area includes community and lifelong music making, intergenerational ensembles, and Serious Leisure Perspective. 

Dr. Humphries was named the 2020 Indiana Music Educators Association College/University Outstanding Music Educator. He has published works for young bands through MSB Publishing, Inc. He has co-authored an article in the journal Psychology of Music and presented research at the NAfME national conference and the IMEA Professional Development Conference. He has also presented at faculty seminars on assessment practices as well as online teaching methods. Additionally, he remains an active clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. He maintains membership in NAfME (collegiate chapter advisor), IMEA, CBDNA, and the Indiana Bandmasters Association.

David Blackwell

Associate Conductor

David Blackwell joined FWACB in 1988 and has been an associate conductor since 1992.  He is a graduate of Indiana University, receiving a B.S. in Music Education and an M.S. in Education.  He taught in the Ridgefarm, IL music department for three years before moving to the Wawasee Schools music department in Syracuse, IN, where he taught for the next thirty-five years and served as its chair.

David is a jazz clarinet player who performs regularly with several groups and an arranger/composer writing arrangements for FWACB and the Embassy Anniversary Shows, as well as for many school groups.

Susan Jehl

Associate Conductor

Susan Jehl has been with FWACB since 1980 and has been a long-time associate conductor of the band.  She graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. and an M.A. in Music Education.  She served as band director at Summit Middle School for 40 years until her retirement in 2020.

Susan calls the clarinet section of the FWACB home. She says, "The band has been a blessing for the performance opportunities it gives me, and for the music we have been able to share with the community."

 

Past Conductors

Dr. William Schlacks

Founding Conductor, 1979-1985

The man who had the idea to start the ensemble, and served as its conductor for seven years.  As director of instrumental music at IPFW, he made it possible for the newly established band to practice every Tuesday night at IPFW.  Schlacks helped the Fort Wayne Area Community Band establish an internal governing organization and elect officers for a board of directors.

Dr. George Cavanagh

Principal Conductor, 1985-1998

Dr. George Cavanagh took over the baton as director of bands at IPFW when he replaced Dr. Schlacks, who took a position at Muskingum College in Muskingum, Ohio.  He led the Fort Wayne Area Community Band until his retirement in 1999.

David Cooke

Interim Conductor, 1998-1999

Principle trombonist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor of the Community Orchestra, David Cooke served as interim conductor of the IPFW Wind Ensemble and the Fort Wayne Area Community Band during the yearlong search for Cavanagh's replacement.

Dr. Reed Thomas

Principal Conductor, 1999-2004

Dr. Reed Thomas brought the band to new heights through his own love of music and challenging skills. Thomas left after four great years to take a position at Middle Tennessee State College, and so David Cooke was called upon to lead the Fort Wayne Area Community Band again during the search for a new director.

Dr. Gregg Gausline

Principal Conductor, 2004-2007

Dr. Gregg Gausline brought great excitement and musicality to the band until he took a position with the University of Georgia.

Dr. James Colonna

Principal Conductor, 2007-2008

Dr. James Colonna received his doctorate of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University.  As a trumpet performer, he performed with the 113th Army Band, the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, the Cheyenne Symphony, as well as numerous community events. The Fort Wayne Area Community Band is proud to have been under the direction of Dr. Colonna with all of the great talent he has to offer. In the summer of 2008, Dr. Colonna took a position with the University of Wisconsin in Eau Claire, WI.

Dr. Chad Nicholson

Principal Conductor, 2008-2010

Dr. Chad Nicholson was the Associate Director of Bands at Colorado State University, where he conducted the Symphonic Band, assisted with athletic bands, and taught conducting.  Dr. Nicholson received a DM in wind conducting from Indiana University under the mentorship of Ray Cramer and Stephen Pratt.  While at Indiana University, he was a guest conductor with the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band.  Additionally, he was an instructor with the IU Marching Hundred. Nicholson also holds degrees from New Mexico State University (MM/Conducting) and from the University of Oklahoma (BME).  With such an excellent resumé as his, Dr. Nicholson brought a high level of talent with him as he lead the Fort Wayne Area Community Band for two years.

Board of Directors

Isaac Embree
President

Maureen Watson
Treasurer

Kelly Hornbarger
Secretary

Susan Nash
Personnel Manager

Mac Pratt
Marketing

 Julie Cox
Librarian

Don Cox
Fundraising

Kyle Baker
Equipment Manager

Paul Ostrander
Community Engagement

Joshua Barkey
Technical Media Director

At-Large Members:
Patrick Kruze
Debi Kennedy
Lynn Emrick
Joe Richeson