CITY OF FAIRFAX BAND
One of the Region’s Best Community Concert Bands
“It’s a wonderful group … more than a community band; it’s a semi-professional band. They play that well.” Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel (ret.), Conductor Emeritus of the U.S. Air Force Band said of our flagship ensemble. Formed in 1969 as a small, summer-season group, the band has grown into one of Northern Virginia’s best-known community music ensembles, among a small number of the Nation’s community bands to achieve high standards. Its talented musicians are accomplished amateur players, including local music teachers, former members of the nation’s top Washington-based military bands, many with music degrees, from the business, tech, education, and government sectors who enjoy sharing their time with the Fairfax community.
Our Distinguished Director
An all-encompassing musician, Dr. Dereck Scott brings high-quality, energetic, and passionate music to the Northern Virginia region either behind the trumpet, the baton, or through composition and arranging. Dereck is originally from the Pittsburgh region, and is a graduate of Duquesne University, where he studied trumpet with Roger Sherman and conducting with Dr. Robert Cameron. Dereck did his Master’s and Doctoral work at West Virginia University, where he studied conducting with Don Wilcox, Lawrence Christiansen, Kathleen Shannon, David Tang, and Dr. Mitchell Arnold, and studied composition and arranging with Dr. John Beall.
As a performer, Dereck has performed with many organizations both in the Pittsburgh region and Northern Virginia. Dereck was a regular musician with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and has also performed with the Maryland Symphony, the McKeesport Symphony, and the Three Rivers Orchestra. Dereck has also played with the Washington Metropolitan Orchestra and was Principal Cornet and Soloist with the Rockville Brass Band from 2017-2022.
Currently, Dereck’s passions lie both with the baton and the pen. Dereck is currently in his final season as the Music Director and Conductor of The Cathedral Brass, and is the conductor of the Cherry Blossom Brass Band. Under his direction, the Cathedral Brass has performed at numerous events, including the National Community Band Festival, the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival, and the Festival of Lights at the Washington DC Temple (LDS). As Music Director of the Cherry Blossom Brass Band, the ensemble had a tremendous inaugural year featuring a 2nd place finish in the 3rd section of the North American Brass Band Association Championships.
As an arranger and composer, Dereck has more than fifty arrangements to his name. Writing for any ensemble size or combination of instruments, Dereck’s music has been performed by student, adult, and semi-professional ensembles. Dereck’s arrangements and compositions have been performed by numerous brass bands in the United States and internationally.
Dereck is the Director of Bands at the Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia where he teaches band from grades 5 through 12.
Performance Highlights:
- Association of Concert Bands convention in Orlando, FL (2023), Allentown, PA, and Virginia Beach, VA.
- American Cemetery and Memorial Performance, Normandy, France (2017)
- Host of the Association of Concert Bands convention in Fairfax, VA (2002)
- National Band Association convention in New Orleans (1996)
- Performance at Wolf Trap
- WMAL Radio’s Christmas Eve show at the Kennedy Center
- Summer concerts on the Rehoboth and Bethany Beach boardwalks
- Yorktown, VA Bicentennial Celebration Performance (1981)
- Four compact discs: “Made in America,” “Marchfest,” “National Band Association Performance,” and “Yuletide Fair
Interested in joining the band?
Member Volunteers
Upcoming Events
Sign Up for Subscribed Users
Be the first to know about upcoming concerts and events for the City of Fairfax Band Association.
"*" indicates required fields