Although they are volunteer musical organizations, community bands may employ an Artistic Director (conductor) or various operational staff.
A group of this type often includes the name of the community or organization which sponsors it, the town or county where it is based, or a local geographical landmark or regional term in its name.
Immigrants, like the German Moravians who settled in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, brought the band tradition with them.
The popularity of early community bands can be attributed to the participation of thousands of ordinary citizens in these ensembles and the patriotic appeal of the music and performance.
[2] Community bands experienced a great dying out after the end of World War I, victims of the automobile, new mass media and a large cultural shift.