New Iberia native Joel Burt has served as the conductor for the Iberia Community Band for the past four years, and sees it as a way of giving back to the band that was instrumental in forming his career as a musician.

Burt began his music career in the fifth grade, playing the trumpet. In the seventh grade he began to play with the Iberia Community Band, the group that he has now conducted for the past four years.

Burt is a 2004 graduate of the University of New Orleans with a fine arts/jazz studies degree with an emphasis in trumpet. In 2014, he moved back to his hometown of New Iberia and reconnected with the Iberia Community Band and is also a muscian with the Three Thirty-Seven Band.

Burt was conducting the band Sunday night in Loreauville, for the band’s Legends of Music Concert in the reception hall of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

What’s your history with Iberia Community Band?

I’m from New Iberia, graduated from NISH in 2000 and actually played in this band when I was in the seventh grade. I went to college at (the University of New Orleans), and UL and moved back here.

I taught at Thibodaux High for seven years conducting, went back to New Orleans and then moved back to New Iberia. I taught at Jeanerette High for three years and now work as band director at St. Pius in Lafayette.

What do you like about this band in particular?

Alluding back to that first point, it’s musicians of all ages. You play an instrument, you love music, you come play in the community band. When I was in the seventh grade these guys taught me how to get better. Now I’m 36 and here I am able to give that back to them.

How did you choose the song list for this concert?

This is the Legends of Music concert, so we chose different legends of different genres. Garth Brooks is a legend of country, Queen is a legend of rock. This is Loreauvile and they love us. I kind of picked for them as well, song choices that they would like.

This concert was dedicated to Paul Schwing. Did you know Paul?

We used to practice in Paul’s Flower Shop. I can remember even on Mother’s Day the place would be packed with flowers and he would move them out of the way so we could practice.