Conductor
Gary Burgess has conducted the MCB since 1996. He is a native of Midland and attended Sugnet Elementary School and Northeast Intermediate School. Gary left Midland in 1957 and graduated from Gainesville (FL) High School in 1960. He returned to Michigan where he attended The University of Michigan and earned both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees.
He taught music at Adrian Junior High School for five years before moving to Midland in 1971, where he was the director of bands at H. H. Dow High School for 18 years. Gary became the director of bands at Jefferson Intermediate School in 1991, and recently retired after 30 years of teaching.
Gary has been a featured Euphonium soloist with the Adrian City Band, The Midland Symphony Orchestra, The University of Michigan Symphony Band, the Midland Youth Orchestra, and Midland’s Chemical City Band. For 22 years, Gary was principal trombonist of the Midland Symphony Orchestra. In 1992, Gary and his wife, Susan, were chosen the Midland Music Society’s Musicians of the Year. Susan is also part of the flute section!
Gary directed the MCB Jazz Band for two years, in addition to being a regular playing member of the band. In his spare time, Gary enjoys golfing and repairing all types of musical instruments.