Trailer and Equipment Stolen from Motor City Brass Band, Public Help Needed
(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 26, 2018)
Southfield, MI- A thief may have stolen the group’s trailer and instruments, but the Motor City Brass Band is not going to stop making music.
The trailer and $45,000 worth of equipment was taken from the group’s rehersal space at the Salvation Army Eastern Divisional Headquarters sometime between June 11 and June 16. Band members showed up to get the trailer for a performance and it was gone.
Conductor and Music Director Craig Strain said “We were stunned. It took 20 years to accumulate what was taken.” He added that the “morale is still high. This is a great bunch of seriously dedicated musicians.”
The Motor City Brass Band has 32 players plus three percussionists. They are borrowing instruments from schools and friends in order to continue their scheduled summer performances.
Police are investigating and members are checking Craigslist and pawn shops for missing items. They are offering a $1,000 reward and season tickets for the return of the trailer and its contents, or information that results in recovery. Among some of the bigger-ticket items they are asking the public to keep an eye open is an American Hauler black trailer NH716TA2, serial number SN6200G22EE1044296. The trailer is 16×7 and has a broken passenger side light on the fender.
Other items include Yamaha Vibraphone, Yamaha Xylophone, LP Congas, Yamaha Timpani, 42 inch gong, Pearl cast aluminum snare drum, Musser 1.5 octave chimes, Yamaha 2.5 octave orchestra bells, Zildjian 18 crash cymbals, 36 in Ludwig concert bass drum.
Anyone with information is asked to contact The Motor City Brass Band at 248.788.6618 The group’s website is www.mcbb.org.