About IHCB

Our Story

IHCB was founded in 2000 by Allison Russell (Allen) and started out with around 12 musicians. They practiced wherever they could find space and ultimately ended up practicing in the music room in the Fine Arts Building at the community college. After almost two years of playing music with many Inver Hills Community College musicians, the Community Band merged with their band, which was called the Inver Hills Symphonic Band. In August of 2002, the name changed to the Inver Hills Community Band, uniting the names of the fledgling Inver Grove Heights Community Band and the existing Inver Hills Symphonic Band. 

The Conductor’s baton was passed from John Salveson to Mike Nelson. In September of 2002, Thomas Morris took over as Musical Director. Under his leadership, IHCB grew into a high-quality ensemble with a strong and dedicated membership. His commitment to thoughtful programming, respectful rehearsals, and challenging yet rewarding repertoire created an environment where musicians stayed engaged for decades. He also built a diverse music library and helped expand our audiences at Christmas, Spring, and Summer Pops concerts year after year.

After 23 incredible years as Music Director—Tom Morris retired at the end of 2025.