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Denver and the Mile High Orchestra bringing big band sound to Church on the Square

By MICHAEL FORTUNA, DAILY SUN

THE VILLAGES - You could say Denver Bierman is riding high in his musical career.

His band, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra, has been thrilling audiences with its horn-based pop/big band sound.

And the trumpeter and lead singer for the group recently got a new side gig - to be a part of the horn section for Kelly Clarkson's upcoming tour.

He got the call last Tuesday that he needed to have the arrangements of 13 songs ready for rehearsals.

Rehearsals started that Thursday.

"That's pretty quick," Bierman said in a phone interview while taking a break from the rehearsals. "It's like writing 13 features, big, big stories. I got four hours of sleep."

Before he heads out on the road, Bierman and his 11-piece band from Nashville, Tenn., will make an appearance on the Fourth of July at 3:30 p.m. at Church on the Square.

Tickets are $10 and $14 in advance, depending on selection; or $15 at the door.

Expect to hear some patriotic tunes in honor of the holiday, including "God Bless America" and "You're a Grand Old Flag"; classic horn-based tunes from the likes of Chicago; Earth, Wind and Fire; and Stevie Wonder; and a few original numbers.

The members of the Mile High Orchestra met around 1999 while attending Belmont University in Nashville.

"The first two or three years were really tough," Bierman said. "We had no albums (at the time)."

They slowly built their fan base by playing numerous gigs, and they now have seven albums under their belts.

The band also performed during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The band was a top three finalist in "The Next Great American Band" TV show in 2007, which helped to elevate its exposure.

The Mile High Orchestra originally had a big band sound reminiscent of Frank Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble.

As the years went by, the band added to that sound with a more pop-oriented, horn-driven feel, like bands such as Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears.

"This is more than a band of musicians," Bierman said. "It's a band of brothers. We've shared memorable life experiences."

Bierman's exposure to music came at an early age while growing up in Indiana. He took piano lessons around the age of 4, and several of his relatives were professional musicians.

Bierman first picked up the trumpet while in the sixth grade, but he originally wanted to play the clarinet.

"It was a leap of faith," he said. "I got cold feet (with the clarinet), so I tugged the shoulder of a friend (in front of me in the line). He said, 'I'm picking the trumpet.' I asked, 'Is it cool?'"

The friend replied that yes, the instrument was cool.

"That changed my entire outlook in life," Bierman said.

When it came time to go to college, Bierman decided to leave Indiana and head to Nashville.

"It was one of the hardest, scariest decisions I ever made, to leave everything I knew (and go to) a place I had never been to before," Bierman said.

But it paid off.

"(Music) is a part of who I am," Bierman said. "I couldn't tell you what I'd do if I didn't have music."