The Palmetto Concert Band was organized in January, 1999, and incorporated as a private, non-profit organization later that year. The ensemble is made up of professional and semiprofessional musicians from throughout South Carolina, with a few members from North Carolina and Georgia. A large majority of its members are alumni of the University of South Carolina School of Music, and more than half of its members are public school band directors. These experienced performers, who receive no compensation for participating, choose to play with the group because they enjoy making music and performing outstanding repertoire composed or transcribed for the wind band.
In addition to performing a season of free concerts in the Columbia area, the ensemble has also been featured on the international stage. Based upon a recording of its premiere performance at the Koger Center in February 1999, the Palmetto Concert Band was invited to perform the finale concert at the 1999 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, an honor bestowed upon only one community wind ensemble each year.
Now in its tenth season, the Palmetto Concert Band performs annually on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, for the University of South Carolina Concert Band Clinic, at its Memorial Weekend Concert honoring members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces, and gives a "Concert in the Park" each June.