Director

Martin Sobelman became director of the Beaverton Community Band in 2014, and, as part of the Band’s Educational Outreach Program, he and other members assist primary and secondary music teachers in the Beaverton School District with one-to-one tutoring, small group music instruction, and performances for their students.

Mr. Sobelman has also been a member of the Northwest Wind Symphony since 2010 playing soprano, alto and bass clarinets. He was a Music Specialist for the Salem-Keizer School District, teaching elementary general music, elementary choirs, and elementary and secondary band, retiring in July 2012.   Prior to that, he taught music at Napier Boys’ High School in Napier, New Zealand for three years, and conducted the Napier Technical Memorial Band, a community group of musicians ranging in age from 15 to 80 years of age!  He was the Choir Director of the Morningside United Methodist Church in Salem, Oregon from 2000-2008.  He was a teacher of Instrumental and Vocal Music at Half Moon Bay High School, Woodside Elementary and High Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area for 9 years, and also taught music for 12 years in schools in Fresno and Madera Counties in California.    He was very active in the Pacific Spindrift Players, and the Coastside Repertory theater groups as musical director and pit musician for many productions from 1988-1995

Mr. Sobelman earned an AB Degree from the University of California, Berkeley, completed graduate studies in Conducting at the University of California, Santa Barbara,  and Orff Shulwerk Level I and II studies at  the University of Memphis.  He maintains a private studio for clarinet, saxophone and bassoon students, and is an active performer in chamber, orchestral, windband, big band, and theater music in the Pacific Northwest.  

Mr. Sobelman resides in West Linn. He has the best wife, and between they are the proud parents of two wonderful sons and daughters and seven cool grandchildren!

History

The band was formally organized in 1978 under the direction of Lambert Morris, who was band director at Beaverton High School. However, the roots of the band can be traced to an earlier time, when interested musicians answered a recruitment ad in the paper and appeared for practice.

The City of Beaverton Mayor’s Office has been a generous supporter of the band since its formal organization. With the help of Mayors Larry Cole through our current Mayor Lacey Beaty, the tradition of city band concerts in the park continues today.

Repertoire

A variety of band literature, including marches, symphonic transcriptions, easy listening pops, swing, patriotic, and holiday tunes, is played at the weekly rehearsals and public performances. The group presents three seasonal public concerts, performs at retirement centers, and participates in the annual Oregon Adult Band Festival. During the summer, you’ll often find the band at community events such as the Beaverton Farmer’s Market, the City’s Picnics in the Park and at concerts on the lawn of the Beaverton City Library

Community Outreach

Part of the Beaverton Community Band’s mission is to “enlighten the community through music education”.  Towards this goal, the band and its members have volunteered their time and talents at a number of local schools, including:

• Mountain View Middle School
• Whitford Middle School
• Beaverton High School
• Cedar Mill Elementary School

Our group also supports the City of Beaverton and local community organizations.  Including providing entertainment for:

• Portland Downtown Lions Club
• David Hill Vineyards & Winery
• Maryville Memory Care
• Ribbon cutting fanfare for Bridge Meadows

Providing entertainment at:

• Beaverton Farmers Market
• Laurel Parc at Bethany Village
• City of Beaverton’s Tree Lighting Ceremony
• King City Civic Association
• City of Beaverton’s Flicks by The Fountain event
• Beaverton Downtown Merchant Celebration

• The Beaverton Community Band has also been the sponsor of the NW BandFest [formerly the Oregon Community Adult Band Festival], a yearly performance reunion where Community Bands from Oregon and Southwest Washington perform for the public and each other.  The 2020 Festival was co-sponsored with the Rex Putnam High School Bands and held there on March 7^th.