Alexandria Citizens Band

The Alexandria Citizens Band is a community organization of volunteer members who bring musical entertainment to Northern Virginia, Alexandria, and the DC metro area. But all-volunteer doesn't mean all free! You'd be surprised how much "free" concerts cost. We buy new sheet music, as no one wants to hear the same Sousa marches over and over again. We have to pay for our webspace, P.O. box, office supplies, storage space, and memberships to professional organizations. Lastly, we pay for band insurance because the City no longer gives us practice space. We play performances at a local church in exchange for using their social hall to rehearse.

Needless to say, all these expenses add up -- not to mention that all of our volunteer musicians pay for their own instruments, reeds, lessons, and gas to get to and from rehearsals and performances. Your donations help keep the band playing and keep our music free, so that we can continue to perform for the public like we've done for over 100 years.

The Alexandria Citizens Band, led by conductor Mike Evans, is the oldest performing arts organization in the City of Alexandria. It was founded in 1912 as the American Indian Guard Band and made its first public appearance in the George Washington Birthday Celebration Parade of 1914. It has been continuously active ever since.

Today, ACB serves the local community by presenting several performances throughout the year, including our own series of free winter, spring, and summer bashes; a very popular annual Holiday Sing-Along that has been featured in the Washington Post; and performances at neighborhood events, such as Del Ray’s Art on the Avenue.   In recent years, we have added small-ensemble performances, such as holiday caroling in Old Town, and have begun holding concerts at neighborhood rec centers, in order to reach a wider audience. 

Your generous support enables us to continue our mission of building community through music.  Thank you!