L.A.P.D. Concert Band To Perform At The Ceremonial Swearing-In Of Police Chief Charlie Beck

Dec. 2, 2009 - PRLog -- The L.A.P.D. Concert Band will perform at the ceremonial swearing-in of the 56th Chief of Police, Charlie Beck, at the New Police Administration Building. For nearly a century, the L.A.P.D. Concert Band has performed at city and civic functions, serving as a source of great pride to the police department and to the "City of Angels.” Aside from police department, fire department, military and civic performances, the band's role of ambassador has taken it to Mexico, Sweden, Italy, Washington D.C., and in June of 2010, the Band will be representing the City of Los Angeles and the State of California at the 3rd Annual National Community Concert Band Sousa Festival.

The L.A.P.D. Concert Band is one of six carefully selected adult community concert bands, that has been selected to perform in the 3rd Annual National Community Concert Band Sousa Festival, which takes place in Washington D.C. and Alexandria, Virginia on June 18-21, 2010. The festival will feature individual and massed performances by concert bands with a repertoire that emphasizes the life and influence of John Philip Sousa on the American Band movement. The concert band will also represent the L.A.P.D., the City of Los Angeles, and the State of California in both their performances at the 2010 National Festival of the States in Washington – commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the end of World War II and the Sousa Festival, along with a culminating performance on June 21st at the Kennedy Center.

The L.A.P.D. Concert Band was established in 1914 and is comprised entirely of volunteers. They are L.A.P.D reserve officers and professional musicians who play in local symphonies, radio and television programs, movie studios and prominent "big bands". This all-volunteer group of musicians is dedicated to giving their very best for the band, the police department and the community. They serve as ambassadors for the City of Los Angeles throughout the United States and abroad. The band has performed for presidents and queens and for inaugurations of police chiefs and mayors. They have traveled extensively, including a performance for the King of Sweden at the World Police and Fire Games in Stockholm, and additional performances in Italy, Mexico, D.C., Ohio and throughout California. Under the direction of Dr. Don Holcomb, the band has become a premiere concert band, the pride of the Police Department and the City of Los Angeles.

Supporting the band is Californians Organized for Police Support (C.O.P.S.), a charitable foundation founded in 1995, by Harvey Friedman. The primary function of C.O.P.S is to cover the expenses of the L.A.P.D. Band. The individual members of the band own their own instruments; C.O.P.S. pays for uniforms and travel expenses. At times, these expenses can stretch the budgetary capacity of the foundation and a fundraising campaign is currently underway to assist with the Washington trip as well as to support their performances throughout the City and State.

For more information on the L.A.P.D Concert Band call 818-994-4661 or visit
http:// www.lapdband.org.