City of Fairfax Band
The City of Fairfax Band (CFB) has entertained audiences with a broad repertoire of symphonic band literature, classical transcriptions, marches, Broadway tunes, and popular band compositions since 1969. Since its formation, the band has grown from a small, summer-season ensemble to one of Northern Virginia best known volunteer community performing groups. Under the direction of Robert Pouliot, the band provides audiences with a musical experience that rivals the nation's top bands.
CFB was awarded the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Silver Scroll Award in 2004, the most prestigious honor a community band may receive, and it was voted into Virginia's Living’s “Best of Virginia 2012.” The band has performed throughout the Washington metropolitan area including appearances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Wolf Trap Farm park for the Performing Arts. On the road, CFB has performed for the national conventions of the national band Association (New Orleans 1996) and the Association of Concert Bands (Allentown 2014). In 2002, the city of Fairfax band hosted the National acda Convention in Fairfax, VA.
In June of 2017, CFB represented the United States as the official band of the American Battle Monuments Commission D-Day anniversary ceremonies in Normandy, France. The Ensemble also performed concerts in Paris and Sainte-Mère-Église.
Noted guest performers of city of Fairfax band include pianist Leon Bates and Dick Hyman; trombonist Scott Shelsta; piccoloist Nan Rafael; Trumpeter Stephen Henderson; Broadway vocalists Christian Knoll, Debbie Gravitte and Michael McGuire; TV personality Bob McGrath; and conductors Frederick Fennell, Harry Begian, James Christensen, Francis McBeth, and Colonel Arnold Gabriel.
CFB has actively engaged in the commissioning of new literature for symphonic band and has commissioned and premiered works by David Uber, Mark Camphouse, Travis Cross, Randol Alan Bass and Ira Hearshen and will premiere Bruce Boughton’s A Southern Jubilee in October of 2019 in celebration of the band's 50th anniversary.
CONDUCTOR- ROBERT POULIOTRobert Pouliot has conducted instrumental and choral groups, musical theater, and jazz bands from the East Coast to the Midwest. Since his appointment as Music Director in 1994, Mr. Pouliot has released three compact discs with the band, secured appearances of world-renowned guest artists, and instituted the band’s annual Young Artists Competition, which to date has awarded $22,000 in scholarships to Northern Virginia musicians.
A Rhode Island native, Mr. Pouliot received his Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees from the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where he studied conducting with Larry Rachleff, Gene Young, and Jerome Laszloffy. In 1984, he founded Connecticut’s Northeast Chamber Ensemble, a group dedicated to performing works written for chamber winds and small orchestral ensembles. Accepting a commission in the U.S. Air Force in 1986, he served as a band officer and spent the next seven years conducting Air Force concert and jazz bands on community and international relations tours in 15 states and in Central and South America. His time in the Air Force included a nationally televised performance on ABC’s Good Morning America celebrating the Fourth of July, and performances honoring former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. His military decorations include the Air Force Commendation Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal.
Mr. Pouliot is a member of the Association of Concert Bands and National Band Association. He is a recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence for his contributions to concert band music in America. In 2015, Mr. Pouliot was recognized with the “John Mason Arts Achievement Award” which recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the development of the arts within the City of Fairfax Community. In 2018, he was awarded the Association of Concert Bands Outstanding Conductor Award.
website: https://www.fairfaxband.org/
