River Valley Community Band

The River Valley Community Band has been a part of Fort Smith and the River Valley for over forty years. The band was organized in 1982. The organization has performed in a number of settings for the community and the state. The Band has performed three time for the Arkansas Bandmaster Convention for the J. Raymond and Ruth Brandon Kick-off Concert. We also perform a number of free concerts each year for the community at-large. Every year the group is a part of the Fort Smith Mayor’s 4th of July Celebration at our riverfront park, and we are part of the Memorial Day tribute at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. We also perform for the Veteran’s Day celebration at Fort Chaffee Historic District. This organization is a member of the Association of Concert Bands, and made up of volunteer area musicians of any level.

Jeff Marlow, Conductor

Jeff Marlow, is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University (87, BA Music Education) where he studied under Hal Cooper, and Ken Futterer. He did his graduate studies at University of Kansas (94, Masters Music Education) where he studied Conducting with Robert Foster. Mr. Marlow is the 2013 past president Arkansas Bandmasters Association, and before retiring in 2017, as director of bands at Dover High School in Arkansas. During his career he also taught at Pocola, OK; Mountain Pine, AR; Ozark, AR; and County Line, AR. His college teaching experience includes teaching at University of the Ozarks, AR, Westark Community College, AR, and University of Central Arkansas.

Jeff’s Dover bands received ASBOA Sweepstakes awards 16 of the 21 years he directed there, and the band performed at the 2004 ASBDA National Convention. Jeff currently teaches privately and directs the Arkansas River Valley Community Band in Fort Smith. He is a member of the Phi Beta Mu International Special Projects Committee and a newly elected board member of the Association of Concert Bands. He also enjoys relaxing on his farm with his wife Greta, and they have two grown children, Roger and Lily.