Our History
On November 10, 1985, at what was then called the “UW – Fox Center”, the Fox Valley Concert
Band held its inaugural concert at the UW-Fox Fine Arts Theatre under the direction of
Professor David Jordahl. When he arrived at the campus in 1981, there were usually 8-10 music
students that he organized into a small wind ensembles. To provide a better learning
opportunity for those students, and to provide an academic band experience to dedicated Fox
Valley resident musicians, Dave began the first “Communiversity” band in the Fox Cities in
1985.
The band continued to perform and grow under Professor Jordahl. In 2004, after Dave’s retirement, Dr. Marc Sackman was hired as a music professor and Director of the Concert Band. Dr. Sackman continued the band’s focus on an academic repertoire for both students and community members, and the band joined several consortia to commission and perform new compositions.
In 2009 the band was very active in supporting the effort to approve and build the Communication Arts Center. The facility finally provided the band with effective rehearsal space and a world-class theater in which to perform. In 2018, UW-Fox Valley became a branch of the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. As university budgets became tighter, the band appreciated the generosity of its audience. Private and corporate donations allowed the band to pay its own way in the University system, with the university only providing Dr. Sackman’s salary and the facility. The band assumed responsibility for music purchases, instrument repairs, soloists and
similar expenses.
In 2024, citing falling enrollment, UW-Oshkosh announced the closure of the Fox Cities campus as of June 30, 2025. In response to the announced closure, the Fox Valley Concert Band took several steps. We helped organize and lead efforts (still ongoing) to maintain the continued public use of the Communication Arts Center. To ensure the continuity of the band, we organized into a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation. All donations to the band are now tax deductible.
As the University evolved from “The Center” to the University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley to UWO- Fox Cities, the Fox Valley Concert Band and the communiversity band concept have remained constant, performing four concerts during the academic year. Our intent is to continue to offer dedicated community musicians and talented students opportunities to play a challenging band repertoire.