The Rockford Kontraband

The Rockford Illinois Kontraband is a summer tuba euphonium ensemble started by Dennis Meacham. This ensemble hopes to bring young low brass players and more seasoned musicians together to grow, learn, and explore the capabilities of our instrument as a community.

Mission Statement

We bring tuba and euphonium players together to perform high-quality music, mentor young musicians, and demonstrate the full capabilities of these instruments to a wider audience.

Our Directors

Head Director

Dennis Meacham

Dennis is the founder of the Kontraband, and is both a teacher and performing artist in Northern Illinois. Dennis has earned two masters degrees, one from Northern Illinois University in Tuba Performance, and another from Kent State University in Music Education. He has been a soloist around Rockford soloing with the Kishwaulkee Valley Concert Band and Freeport High School. Additionally, Dennis has presented internationally at The International Society for Research and Promotion of Wind Music (IGEB).

Director

Luke McMillan

Luke is the band and choir teacher at Stephen Mack Middle School in Rockton, Illinois. He received his Bachelor’s of music education from Augustana College in 2021. In 2019, Luke was recognized as a winner of the Augustana College Concerto Competition, playing Philip Wilby’s “Concerto for Euphonium.” He is now an active performer in the greater Rockford area, playing in groups such as the Rockford Wind Ensemble and Pegasus Wind Symphony.

Director

Max Medlock

Max has taught general music, band, and choir here in Rockford at the Haskell STEAM Academy since 2018. He graduated with a bachelor's in music education from the Hugh A Glauser School of Music at Kent State University in 2018, studying under Dr. Kenneth Heinlein alongside Dennis.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals will be held at the Rock Valley Community College in the Educational Resource Center.

2026 Rehearsals TBD

Summer 2025

Battle Within - Julian Torres
Commissioned for the Rockford Kontraband

Within the depths of our being, we are often caught in a silent battle between our fears and our hopes, our doubts and our dreams. It's a constant tug-of-war between the negative and the positive, where one moment we are overwhelmed by our insecurities, and the next, we are uplifted by the strength of our aspirations. This internal struggle can feel relentless, yet it is through this very tension that we grow. The pain of self-doubt, the weight of past regrets, and the fear of the unknown are not just burdens, but lessons in resilience. Each challenge we face within ourselves teaches us something profound: the value of patience, the importance of self-compassion, and the power of perseverance. The darkness that often seems overwhelming only serves to highlight the light that exists within us, even when we don't always see it.

Happiness, too, is not a permanent state but a fleeting moment that, when cherished, brings meaning to the struggle. We learn that joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin, never fully separate but intertwined, always moving in tandem. The pain we endure can shape us into more compassionate, stronger individuals, while the moments of happiness remind us of the beauty in living, even amid hardship. Through it all, we come to understand that the battles within ourselves are not to be won or lost but to be embraced. They are part of the grand tapestry of our existence, guiding us toward greater wisdom and a deeper connection with who we truly are. Ultimately, the journey of balancing these inner forces reveals that growth and healing come not from avoiding the pain or chasing the happiness, but from learning to dance with both.