Municipal Band of the
City of Bethlehem
est. 1935

The Bethlehem Municipal Band presents its summer concert series as part of the Music in the Park program in the Bethlehem Rose Garden. Founded in 1935 by Harry B. J. Hertwig and a group of local musicians, the band was created to provide a creative outlet for recent Liberty High School graduates. With early support from Bethlehem City Council, the ensemble quickly grew and made its debut performance in 1936. Soon after it was named as the official band of the city of Bethlehem. Over the decades, the band has become a cherished community tradition, performing at local celebrations, holiday events, and summer concerts. Despite challenges it has remained an active and enduring presence in Bethlehem’s cultural life. The band performs today at the Rose Garden band shell and continues to rehearse at Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Led by a dedicated succession of directors, the Bethlehem Municipal Band remains committed to bringing live music to the community and preserving its proud musical heritage.

Announcements

We practice every Wednesday from 7:30pm-9pm

Click the link below for directions to our practice location at:

Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church 514 3rd Ave Bethlehem, PA 18018

We perform 8 summer concerts and 2 Christmas concerts each year.

Please let us know if you are interested in joining! Per Pennsylvania state law all members must be 18 years or older to join.

Join the Band

2026 Concert Schedule

All of the Following Concerts will be at the Bethlehem Rose Garden beginning at 7:00pm

Sunday, May 24th

Sunday, June 14th

Sunday, July 19th

Friday, July 31st

Sunday, August 9th

Sunday, August 23rd

Sunday, September 6th

We will be playing at Bethlehem City Hall for the 4th of July Fireworks
7:30pm

Directors

Dedication. Passion. Talent.

Director

David Crosby

David J. Crosby is a resident of Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, and a native of Old Bridge New Jersey. He holds a degree in Music Education from Montclair State University, where he studied instrumental and vocal music. As a conductor, Mr. Crosby was the music director and conductor of several New Jersey based ensembles, including the Two Counties Symphonic Band, the Old Bridge Symphonic band, and the Colts Neck Community Band. He has also made frequent appearances as a guest conductor for the Imperial Symphonic Band. During the 2018/2019 academic year, Mr. Crosby served as one of the inaugural conductors for the Rutgers Brass Band: a student-run organization which began at the Mason Gross School of Performing Arts. In that capacity, he shared podium responsibilities with Dr. William Berz, Professor Todd Nichols, and Mr. Thomas Vacca. Mr. Crosby was the only member of the ensemble that was not a Rutgers alumnus or current student.

Mr. Crosby’s principle conducting teacher is Dr. Shelley Axelson, who is the current director of university bands at Radford University in Virginia.

Assistant Director

Bill Nazzaro

Bill Nazzaro joined the band's tuba section in 2021. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas and grew up in Bucks County. Bill has two Master's Degrees one in Music from New England Conservatory, and another in Information Systems from DePaul. He works suporting Life Sciences IT systems used in clinical trials. Bill currently lived with his wife and two children in Allentown.

Director Emeritus

Don Kemmerer

Don Kemmerer was born and raised in Bethlehem. After graduating from Liberty High School, he completed his musical education at West Chester University, majoring in trumpet and French horn. After college, Don taught instrumental music in public schools, eventually becoming a fulltime professional musician. Don has performed with many of the bands in the Lehigh Valley Area and is often featured as a guest soloist. He has been a member of the Bethlehem Municipal Band for over 40 years and has been director since 1989. Don also serves as music director for the Bethlehem Area Moravian Trombone Choir. He is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, and a past president of the Pennsylvania Bandmasters Association. Don, who holds numerous copyrights for band and small ensemble music is devoted to providing the pageantry of music to everyone.

Don conducted his last concert with the Municipal Band of the City of Bethlehem on December 17, 2025.

The Bethlehem Municipal Band proudly serves the City of Bethlehem and its residents. Our ensemble is open to everyone in the community—regardless of background, identity, or skill level—who shares a love of music. For over 90 years, the band has been a lasting part of Bethlehem’s cultural tradition, bringing a wide variety of music to audiences across the city. Each year, we present nine free concerts, reaching thousands of local residents. While we receive some support from the city, additional funding is needed to cover music purchases, program printing, and other essential expenses. To sustain our performances, we rely on the generosity of sponsors—local businesses, community members, and individuals honoring past or present band members or loved ones.

Sponsors are recognized in our concert programs, on our website, and through our social media platforms. Sponsorship opportunities range from $25 to $200.

Your support helps keep live music thriving in Bethlehem!

Our Sponsors

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Municipal Band of the City of Bethlehem est. 1935