In the Media
Author Michael Kirk on lessons learned by age 23: On my first live radio debut, Gary Sutton of WSBA Morning News invited me to speak about my self-published book, Dilemmas of Digital Natives: 10 Life Lessons I Learned Before 23.
Central Pa. ties strong inside Baltimore Ravens marching band: FOX43 did a segment about a father-son duo in Baltimore's Marching Ravens. I joined the Marching Ravens, the NFL's largest marching band, alongside my dad, in April 2023. Playing the mellophone and trumpet, we practiced weekly at the Ravens' facility in Owings Mills, Maryland. This experience was special, allowing us to share our passion for music while strengthening our family bond. Having previously performed with local groups like the Emigsville Band and the Unforgettable Big Band, we were grateful for the opportunity to continue our musical journey at this level. The Marching Ravens have a rich history dating back to 1947, and we were excited to create lasting memories as part of this incredible band.
Small towns and what worked: New generation of Emigsville Band tells 150-year story: This news article in the York Daily Record earned the Emigsville Band front-page news in the printed newspaper in February 2024. I created a 90-minute documentary that brought the Emigsville Band’s 150-year history to life, reviving its place in the community. This project was a labor of love, as I handled every aspect, from filming to editing, capturing our band’s rich past and the generations that kept it going. My goal was to celebrate this legacy and ensure that the band’s story could be enjoyed by both current audiences and future generations. This documentary has helped to put the band back on the map.
Over a century of community music: The Emigsville Band: This segment on FOX43 was a part of a series shedding light on the various nonprofits that were participating in the annual Give Local York fundraising event. In my capacity as Assistant Director, I appeared briefly in the video explaining how our ensemble welcomes all musicians in York County regardless of age or musical proficiency. Also serving as Public Relations Chair, I considered this a major step in garnering positive press, resulting in over $2,400 raised in the fundraiser in 2024 that went right back to providing free performances to our local retirement communities and nursing homes.
Give Local York - Livestream Interview with Assistant Director Michael Kirk: During the 24-hour fundraising event, I joined the livestream advocating for the Emigsville Band.
Give Local York - FOX43 Live TV Interview at Wellspan Park (York Revolution Stadium) with Evan Forrester: During the 24-hour fundraising event, I was interviewed live on WPMT FOX43 by Evan Forrester to discuss why the Emigsville Band was participating in the fundraising event for the first time in 2024.
Community band festival highlights musical heritage: ABC27 showed up unexpectedly to the first annual York County Community Band Festival on July 28, 2024. This event was organized and executed by myself, and featured four of York's community bands including the Emigsville Band.
Emigsville Band celebrates decades of making music for central Pennsylvania community: After planning and executing a concert at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in downtown Harrisburg, I was invited to speak in-studio live on FOX43 for nearly 5 minutes about the performance. The interview was an opportunity to share the successes that the Emigsville Band experienced during the 2024 season as a result of my efforts as Public Relations Chair. We grew our band in terms of membership consistently each year for the past three years, beating the prior year's record each time. We also nearly quadrupled the number of gigs that we typically play in a season.