About the CCCB
Since the year 2000 more than 200 musicians have played in the band, which normally has about 75 players. The group is about equally mixed: high school students, active working adults, and retirees. Several of the adult members are either current or former directors or have been professional musicians. Others played in college or high school bands and enjoy playing in an organized group. The band performs a mix of classical, popular, Broadway, and patriotic music.
Mike holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Masters Degree in Education from Troy State University. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1985 after five years as a high school band director in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He has completed the Basic Music Course, the Intermediate Course, and the Enlisted Bandleaders Course, and taught Music Theory and Ear Training at the Armed Forces School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia. Mike was one of six Marines chosen to develop and implement the Musician Technical Assistant Program to help the six Marine Corps recruiting districts recruit musicians. He had served the Marine Corps in San Diego; Okinawa, Japan; Norfolk; New Orleans; Cherry Point and Camp Lejeune. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Laird is the Director and Officer in Charge of the Second Marine Division Band at Camp Lejeune. He deployed with the band to Iraq in February 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His wife Cindy is a teacher at Tucker Creek Middle School and his two daughters attend Havelock High School. He enjoys golf, music and maintaining his house. Mike will retire from the Marine Corps in 2010 and plans to continue living in Havelock.