About the SWCCB

Community Involvement

The Southwest Community Concert Band is a 501(c)(3) Not-For Profit organization, our mission is to integrate with our community in promoting music awareness and providing musical services. The following events are some examples our community service and involvement:

  • Assisted Living Facility Holiday Performances

  • Holiday and Summer Concerts & Food Drives (annually collecting over 500 lbs. for local Food Pantries)

  • Summer Park Concerts for local communities

  • Participation in various Orland Park and surrounding community events

  • Annual Winter Band Day for Junior High & Middle School Students

  • Annual Summer Band Camp for 1st year through 9th grade band students

  • Master Classes and Clinics for students and adults

Mission Statement

Pursuit of Excellence

The mission of the Southwest Community Band is to foster the musical talent and education of its members, provide quality musical entertainment to the community and promote the value of musical education to the students and adults of the community.


The Southwest Community Concert Band is more than a performing ensemble. We are a community of musicians united by a love of music and a desire to serve the community through it. We value excellence, dedication, friendship, and the shared experience of creating live music that uplifts, inspires, and brings people together. We believe in preserving the concert band tradition and welcoming all musicians from across the community. Ages of our musicians usually range from 18 to over 80+ years old, and using music to strengthen the cultural life of the area we call home.

SWCCB Mission & History

    • 1981: Founded by local school director Milton Potter, who spent the first two years assembling the core membership.

    • 1983: Neil Dunlap (VanderCook College) took leadership, moving the band to Moraine Valley Community College and launching the first outdoor summer concerts.

    • 1988: Leo Henning became director. Membership surged to 50+, and the band established its first governing board, bylaws, and elected officers.

    • Late 80s: The band transitioned to a "working band" model, using performance revenue to cover operating expenses.

    • 1990: Launched the Cavalcade of Bands, an adult community band festival that the band hosted for the next 15 years.

    • 1996: Ray Forlenza joined as Assistant Conductor.

    • 1996: The Winter Band Day Outreach Program was established, providing middle school students a non-competitive environment to learn challenging new music.

    • Mid-90s: The band began developing smaller specialized performing ensembles and elevated the repertoire's musical difficulty.

    • 2000: Ray Forlenza became the fourth Musical Director following Leo Henning’s retirement.

    • 2005: Moved to First Church of the Nazarene in Lemont, gaining access to state-of-the-art recording and performance facilities.

    • 2006: 25th Anniversary Celebration. Commissioned Exaltation by William Owens, which premiered at the prestigious Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic.

    • 2006: Started the annual Holiday Food Drive Concert, which now collects over 500 lbs. of food annually for local pantries.

    • 2009: Modernized the music library (now containing ~1,200 selections) and saw record attendance for Summer Band Camp and Winter Band Day.

  • 2012:30th Anniversary Celebration. Commissioned Skyscape by Timothy Loest; guest conductors included the children of the band’s previous directors.

    • 2013: Launched the Master Class Series, featuring elite artists like Dr. Thomas Bough (Tuba) and Kevin Lepper (Percussion).

    • 2014: Started the Summer Food Drive Concert featuring local jazz and brass groups.

    • 2016: Began the tradition of performing Christmas music at retirement homes on Christmas Eve.

    • 2013–2016: A period of transition with moves to Eagle Rock Church (Homer Glen) and later the Orland Park Cultural Arts Center.

    • 2022: 40th Anniversary Celebration. Commissioned renowned composer Robert Sheldon to write FREEFALL, which the band performed as a world premiere.

    • 2024: Following the demolition of the Cultural Arts Center, the band established its current home at the Presbyterian Church of Orland Park.

    • Present: The band continues its mission of high-caliber musical performance and youth outreach through its thriving Summer and Winter programs.