Our History
The Mat-Su Concert Band got its start in 1984 as the Mat-Su Community Band, formed by Hank Hartman. The band, which now includes more than 60 members, began with about a dozen.
Vance Barrett, a retired music educator, was the first conductor. The band met and practiced for an hour and went outside and marched for an hour — becoming the only community marching band in Alaska for several years before voting unanimously to become a concert band, focusing on stage performances.
Neil Long, a local music teacher, became the next conductor and passed the baton to Philip Munger in 1995. After over 10 years as director of the Mat-Su College Community Band, Munger stepped down and Long returned and directed for one more year.
Gleo Huyck, a longtime music educator, became director in 2008, reorganized the band’s structure, and helped create the current organization, a 501(c)3 organization no longer affiliated with the college. Huyck stepped down in 2024.
Tyler Martin, director of Wasilla High School’s band program, was named Mat-Su Concert Band director in 2025.
