History of the Saint Francis Brass Band

Saint Francis Brass Band was formed in 2002 by Doug Amaxopoulos as a ministry of Saint Francis United Methodist Church, Cary, North Carolina.  Mr. Amaxopoulos served as music director and provided the music and uniforms for the band.

The band is modeled on the traditional British brass band consisting of cornets, trumpets, flugelhorn, French horns, baritones/euphoniums, trombones and tubas.  The band consists of from 20 to 40 volunteer musicians from the Cary/Raleigh area who meet weekly to rehearse.  No member of the band, to include the music director and officers, receive compensation for their participation in the band.  As stated in the band’s by-laws, the purpose of the band is “to foster interest and participation in the performance of brass band music; . . . [t]o contribute to the enjoyment and recreation of persons in and around Wake County, North Carolina through the performance of brass band music; and . . . [t]o provide an opportunity for musical expression and enjoyment of the membership.”

In furtherance of those purposes, the band performs brass band music at worship services for Saint Francis United Methodist Church, at retirement homes and senior living facilities in the area, and at other community events.  The band performs at approximately four to six senior living facilities each year and performs quarterly during the Sunday morning worship service for Saint Francis UMC.  The band has also participated in the Carolina Brass Band Festival for the past several years.

In 2023, Mr. Amaxopoulos advised he was stepping back from his leadership of the band after over two decades of service.  The members of the band decided they wished to continue the band as a nonprofit corporation.  In August 2023, the initial board of directors for the band were chosen.  Articles of incorporation as a nonprofit corporation were approved by the North Carolina Secretary of State in late August 2023, and the band was recognized as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service in March 2024.

The band continues to open for membership to brass musicians over the age of eighteen who can demonstrate musical skills, knowledge, and ability to play at a level acceptable to the Music Director.  Musicians under age eighteen can participate and perform with the band upon the invitation of the Music Director.