The Washtenaw Community Concert Band will use a $3,000 state grant to expand community and student outreach this spring, the Ypsilanti Courier reports.

The grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs was one of 233 applications for fiscal 2012 funding and one of 35 awards made to arts organizations in Washtenaw County. It was the only award to a concert band in the state.

Founded in 1979 as the Ypsilanti Community Band, the Washtenaw Community Concert Band is an 80-member concert band made up of members from the Ypsilanti band and students in a concert band course at Washtenaw Community College.

The band, conducted by Christopher Heidenreich, provides free concerts throughout the year. Its next performance is Feb. 21 at WCC.

The grant award, as required by the state, is being matched by local gifts from patrons of the band. The concert band expects to enlist the help of two nationally known musicians in the coming months to help provide instructional services.

For more, read the Ypsilanti Courier story.