The band was formed by Pete DiBona, Bob Thulman and Sue Waller and first rehearsed weekly at
Hammond High School as a gathering of musicians who had previously played instruments during their formal schooling and professional musicians looking for another group with which to perform great music. Music teacher Ed Kerman led the band until approximately 1983 and Fred Gruenbaum was the first director. The next director was Ron Friedman, under whom they changed their name to Columbia Concert Band and became incorporated on November 18, 1983. In 1989,
Howard County, Maryland music teacher and
percussionist Robert Miller took the podium. During this time the band doubled in size, and rehearsed in a number of local schools, before settling at
Hammond Middle School where Miller taught. A partnership with
Howard Community College was formed. In 2000,
Peabody Institute graduate and music teacher Michael Blackman became director. Blackman had been a musician in the group since 1986. ==References==