City of Fairfax Band
Dr. Dereck Scott, Conductor
One of the Nation’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
The City of Fairfax Band is 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.
Upcoming Events
For tickets, select a concert above or click the button below to all tickets. All concerts are handicapped accessible.
Dr. Dereck Scott
Our Conductor
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.
Dr. Dereck Scott
Our Conductor
Dr. Dereck Scott is Music Director of the City of Fairfax Band Association and Conductor of the City of Fairfax Band. Recognized for imaginative programming and engaging performances, he is a conductor, educator, arranger, composer, and trumpeter dedicated to creating meaningful concert experiences that connect audiences with the tradition and evolving future of wind band music.
Under his leadership, the City of Fairfax Band has been recognized for thoughtfully curated programs that combine standard wind band repertoire with film music, multimedia, historical storytelling, and newly commissioned works. His programming emphasizes both artistic excellence and audience accessibility, with the goal of creating performances that are engaging for seasoned concertgoers and welcoming to new listeners alike.
Previously, Dr. Scott served as Music Director of the Cathedral Brass and Founding Music Director of the Cherry Blossom Brass Band. With Cathedral Brass, he led performances at the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival, the National Community Band Festival, and the Washington D.C. Temple’s Festival of Lights. As Founding Music Director of the Cherry Blossom Brass Band, he helped establish the ensemble’s artistic identity and, in collaboration with its musicians and leadership, guided the ensemble to a second-place finish in the Third Section of the North American Brass Band Association Championships during its inaugural season. The ensemble was also featured at the Northeast Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference at George Mason University, performing alongside internationally recognized artists David Porter, Justin Benavidez, Brandon Jones, and Mark Jenkins.
An active educator, Dr. Scott directs bands at an independent school in Northern Virginia, where he was awarded the Driving Spirit Award in 2023 for excellence in teaching and service. He maintains a strong commitment to music education through clinics and guest work with school ensembles throughout the region. His teaching experience also includes appointments at Frostburg State University and West Virginia University, where he served as a graduate teaching assistant in music theory and audio production while also teaching applied trumpet.
As an arranger and composer, Dr. Scott has written a substantial body of works for concert band, brass band, chamber ensembles, and educational groups. His music is performed by school, community, and semi-professional ensembles throughout the United States and internationally. He remains an active advocate for new music through the commissioning and performance of works by contemporary composers.
Originally from the Pittsburgh region of Pennsylvania, Dr. Scott holds degrees from Duquesne University and West Virginia University, where he completed his Doctor of Musical Arts.
Select Concert Recordings
Over 50 Years of Music!
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
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”