Past Venues:

 

Retirement Communitees:

• Brevillier Village

• Dufford Terrace

• Heritage Apartments

• Independence Court

• Mercy Center on Aging

• Mercy Terrace Apartments

• Methodist Towers

• Niagara Village

• Ostrow Apartments

• PA Soldiers’ & Sailor’s Home

• Parkside at Westminster

• Regency at South Shore

• Sarah Reed Retirement Center

• Springhill Retirement Center

• St. Mary’s at Asbury Ridge

• Sunrise Assisted Living

 

Events and Other:

•  Abiding Hope Lutheran Church

• All-Season’s Marketplace

• Bayview Park Concert Series

• Blasco Library Concert Series

• CB&C Innovative Tours

• Celebrate Erie

• Colony Plaza Gallery Night

• Corry’s Thursdays in the Park

• Crawford County Fair

• Dan Rice Days

• Erie Art Museum Music Series

• East Erie Turner’s

• Edinboro Maple Festival

• EHCA Spring Swing

• Erie Blues and Jazz Fest

• Erie Maennerchor Club

• Erie SeaWolves

• Erie Sounds of Summer Concert Series

• Erie Summer Festival of the Arts

• Erie VA Medical Center

• Erie Wild Rib Cook-Off

• expERIEnce Children's Museum

• Faith Lutheran Erie

• Fairview Pleasant Ridge Park Concert Series

• Fairview Presbyterian Church

• Festival of Trees

• First Presbyterian Church of Harborcreek

• Franklin Applefest

• Gathering at French Creek

• Girard Lawn Chair Concert Series

• Goodell Gardens Founder's Day

• Gravel Pit Park

• Guess That Tune Gala

• Harborcreek Township

• House of Mercy

• Lawrence Park Gazebo Concert Series

• Lynch Music Concert Series

• Maennerchor Club

• Maplewood High School Jazz Festival

• Mercy County Courthouse Square

• Millcreek Mall

• New Hope Presbyterian Church

• North East Let It Be Heard Concert Series

• Our Lady of Mount Carmel

• Our West Bayfront Concert Series

• Penn State Behrend

• Perry 200 4th of July Celebration

• PMEA District 2 Jazz Fest

• SafeNet

• Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church

• SeaWolves

• Shriners Hospital for Children

• St. George Catholic Church

• St. John’s Catholic Church

• St. John’s Lutheran Church

• St. Mark's Episcopal Church

• St. Patty's Day Parade

• Tall Ships Celebration

• Titusville Scheide Park Concert Series

• Tuba Christmas

• Union Station

• Waterford Days

• Whitford Park Concert Series

• Wounded Warrior Event

• WQLN Sounds Around Town 

History of Gem City Bands

The roots of the Gem City Bands trace back to the 1930s or early 1940s, when local musicians came together in various community ensembles across Erie, Pennsylvania.

 

Early Origins

Two early groups played key roles in what would become the Gem City Bands:

• A concert band at the Siebenbuerger Singing Society

• A concert and marching band associated with the 313th Machine Gun Battalion Club at 20th & Peach Streets—the current site of the King's Rook Club.
    

A Merger and a New Era

Around 1950, these two bands merged and were sponsored by the Siebenbuerger Singing Society. Under conductors including Adam Lehner, Joseph Lehner, and Hank Russell, the band remained active at the Siebenbuerger Club for more than 20 years. However, as interest declined and membership shrank, a new home was sought.
 

Move to East Erie Turners

After a brief stint at the Millcreek Moose Club, the band found a new sponsor in 1970 with the East Erie Turners (EET). This partnership marked a vibrant period of growth and performance:

• The band performed spring and fall concerts at the Turners' indoor venue.

• Summer concerts were held at the Turners’ outdoor facility, Turnwald.

• Concerts often drew 400+ audience members, and the club eventually added risers to accommodate the crowds.
   

During this time, the band was led by several conductors, including:

• Hank Russell

• Lloyd Johns

• Ralph Perkins

• Ned Trautman

• Gary Peterson

• Tim McKinney
   

A Period of Transition

In September 2003, after more than 30 years with the East Erie Turners, the band parted ways with the club and was briefly without a name or home. Despite the uncertainty, both the full concert band and a newly formed swing/jazz ensemble continued rehearsing at Wilson Middle School.

 

By early 2004, the bands relocated to St. John's Lutheran Church, and it was there that they adopted the name Gem City Bands—a nod to the city they call home. Erie is often referred to as the Gem City, a nickname believed to come from the sparkling, gem-like appearance of Lake Erie on sunny days.

 

Recent Leadership

Leadership in the years that followed included:

• Betty McKinney (2007)

• Dr. Scott Tomlison (2008–2010)

• Brian McCowin, Concert Band Conductor (2010–2018)

• Jim Caspar, Jazz Ensemble Conductor (2010–2019)

• Dr. Joel Hunt, Jazz Ensemble Conductor (2020–2025)

 

In November 2018, Brent Johnson was appointed conductor of the Concert Band, with Brian Gresh as Assistant Conductor. In October 2025, Jim Caspar became the conductor of the Jazz Ensemble, with Logan Carnes serving as Assistant Conductor.
 

Our Current Home

After spending time at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church from 2011 to March 2014, the bands returned to St. John's Lutheran Church at 2216 Peach Street, where they remain today. The church offers:

• A large rehearsal hall

• Several breakout rooms for sectionals

• Ample storage for instruments, equipment, and sheet music

• A spacious auditorium with a stage for seasonal concerts 

 

Gem City Ensembles

The Gem City Bands are proud to feature several vibrant ensembles, each with its own unique sound and style. Both the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble present spring and fall concerts at St. John’s Lutheran Church, while all groups also perform regularly at community events, senior living facilities, and other local venues throughout the year.

 

Concert Band

The Concert Band is a dynamic group of 60+ musicians, performing a wide variety of repertoire that includes:

• Traditional concert band pieces

• Movie scores and show tunes

• Classical overtures

• Patriotic music and marches

 

The versatility and rich sound make the Concert Band a staple of the Erie music scene.

 

Jazz Ensemble

Formed in 2003, the Jazz Ensemble is a 23-member group specializing in jazz, big band, and swing music spanning multiple eras. Their diverse repertoire includes works by legendary composers such as:

• Duke Ellington

• Count Basie

• Sammy Nestico

• Buddy Rich

 

The Jazz Ensemble brings timeless energy and style to every performance.

 

Flagship Steel Band

Established in 2022, the Flagship Steel Band explores a colorful range of music using traditional steel pans and percussion. This nearly 30-member ensemble features all four standard steel pan voices:

• Leads

• Double Seconds

• Cellos

• Bass

 

The Steel Band's vibrant repertoire includes Soca, Calypso, Latin, Classical, and Pop selections, offering audiences a unique and uplifting musical experience.

 

Additional Ensembles

Looking for something more intimate or tailored to a specific event? Smaller performance groups can be arranged upon request, providing flexible musical options and sizes for community events and retirement centers.