The Atlantic Brass Band is a traditional British-style brass band. (Photo courtesy of YouTube)
The award-winning Atlantic Brass Band launches the 36th annual Cape May Music Festival in a free outdoor concert Sunday, May 25 at 7 p.m. at Rotary Park.
The 35-piece band, under the baton of Salvatore Scarpa, brings a new program of rousing band music to Cape May, the perfect high note for Memorial Day weekend.
The Rotary Bandstand is located at 400-498 Lafayette St. In the event of rain, the concert will be held in Cape May Convention Hall, 714 Beach Ave. Admission is free.
Originally formed as the Wheaton Brass Band by Yorkshire-born Herb Roselle in 1984, the three-time national champion Atlantic Brass Band is one of the premier all-volunteer performing ensembles in the greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey area.
Comprised of professional musicians, professors, educators and community members, the band is committed to bringing the arts to the community through entertainment, educational collaborations and fundraising efforts for local schools and charities, according to a news release.
The Atlantic Brass Band is a traditional British-style brass band. Instrumentation includes an E-flat soprano cornet, 10 B-flat cornets, one flugelhorn, three tenor horns, two baritone horns, two euphoniums, two tenor trombones, one bass trombone, two E-flat basses, two B-flat basses, and up to five percussionists.
Performances throughout the year at a variety of conferences, festivals, and concert venues, with a repertoire spanning hymns, marches, orchestral transcriptions, pop music and traditional brass band literature, make this group a favorite throughout the region.
The band has performed at Cape May Victorian Week, the Great American Brass Band Festival, the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the National Trumpet Competition, and has performed internationally with a tour of Italy, two tours of England, and appearances in Kerkrade, Netherlands. For more information about the band, visit https://www.atlanticbrassband.org/
The concert is presented by the Cape May MAC. Now celebrating its 36th year, the annual Cape May Music Festival presented by Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture), with major support by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, features an engaging variety of musical concerts. Visitors and residents can enjoy 14 classical, chamber, jazz, funk and brass band musical performances from May 25-June 28.
Classical music lovers will welcome the New York Chamber Ensemble, the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players and the Bay Atlantic Symphony in performance. Bach's Lunches at the Inn of Cape May and Mid-day Music and More at The Washington Inn feature classical mini concerts over lunch.
New this year is the hot new group from Philadelphia, SNACKTIME, bringing their seven-piece funk and soul to Cape May. “Combining their influences, which range from jazz to rap to rock to punk and R&B, SNACKTIME is one of the most original ensembles out there right now,” said Paste Magazine.
A Jazz Brunch with Paula Johns at the Shore Club and the George Mesterhazy Tribute Concert in the intimate setting of the Episcopal Church of the Advent round out the series for jazz lovers. Evening concerts are scheduled on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets for festival concerts may be purchased in advance by phone at 609-884-5404, online at capemaymac.org or in person by visiting Hill House Visitor Service Center or Carriage House Visitor Service Center, both at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., or the Washington Street Mall Information Booth at Washington Street at Ocean Street.
Cape May Music Festival is sponsored in part with a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and with the support of donors including Brown & Brown of New Jersey, LLC, the David R. & Patricia D. Atkinson Foundation, Madison Resorts and the Cape May Star & Wave.
Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors.
Cape May MAC maintains and manages the 1879 Emlen Physick Estate, the 1859 Cape May Lighthouse and the 1942 World War II Lookout Tower, and is the leading organization to offer visitors tours, activities and events year-round in Cape May.
For information about year-round tours, festivals and events, call 609-884-5404 or visit capemaymac.org.
