• Retired Astronaut Winston Scott to attend, make remarks
• Letter from Senator Bill Nelson to be presented
• Fundraising raffle for ltd. edition space print and 4 Space Center passes

MELBOURNE, FL, February 1, 2011 – The Melbourne Municipal Band will pay tribute to NASA’s space program – and the community that has nurtured it – with “Journey to the Stars,” a concert that celebrates the “celestial” music of composers and cinema. The concert will be February 16 and 17, beginning at 7:30 p.m., at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. There is no charge and tickets are not required.

Retired Space Shuttle Astronaut Winston Scott will be on hand both evenings to say a few words about how he never would have made it to space without the help of music and support of his band director.  A letter from Senator Bill Nelson will be read, as well.

In conjunction with the concert, MMB is holding a raffle for a limited edition, framed print by Robert McCall, one of the world’s most famous space artists, and four Maximum Access two-day passes to the Kennedy Space center. The items have been donated by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation.

Proceeds from the raffle will be used for much-needed equipment, including new chairs and music stands. Raffle tickets are one for $3 and two for $5, and are available from band members, by contacting the band office at 724-0555, and at the concerts. Winner will be selected at the close of the concert on the 17th and need not be present to win.

Principal Conductor Staci Cleveland will lead the band in a variety of selections, such as, Liberty Fanfare, Stardust and dramatic music by John Williams from the Star Wars movies.  Band member Robin Krasny will perform her original song, So Close to Heaven, in honor of those who lost their lives aboard Space Shuttle Challenger 25 years ago.  The Sunshine Brass Quintet will provide pre-show music.

Call 724-0555 or visit MelbourneMunicipalBand.org for more information.

About the Melbourne Municipal Band
The Melbourne Municipal Band (MMB), established in 1965, plays free concerts for the citizens of Brevard County nearly every month, and also contributes to the community through parades, patriotic concerts and ceremonial performances. Some 30 percent of the band’s 80-plus members are professional musicians. In a typical year, the band serves 69,000 concert attendees, and its members give 27,000 hours of community service in the form of rehearsals and performance time.

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Treat Your Sweetie to a Dance and Portrait by Southern Photo Professional

Captain Winston Scott, USN, Ret. NASA photo

In case you were not aware of it, I am a serious space buff.  I love to read blogs and books about space, watch documentaries on the topic, look at the latest images from Cassini and Hubble and just keep up with current thought about what’s going on out there in our universe.  Our February concerts will celebrate human exploration of space.  What better way to do that than to have a guest speaker who is an astronaut/musician?

Captain Winston Scott, USN, Ret. flew missions on space shuttles Columbia and Endeavor.  He will be our guest speaker for the Melbourne Municipal Band concerts on the 16th and 17th of February at the Melbourne Auditorium.  Concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m.  Captain Scott will explain how he never would have made it to space if it were not for music.  More specifically, he would not have made it without being in band and playing the trumpet!  I’ll leave the rest to him, but you’ll have to come to a concert to hear his inspiring story and find out firsthand what it is like to go to space.

These concerts will feature a raffle as well.  Have you ever had dinner with an astronaut?  Captain Scott has been kind enough to offer one of our raffle winners dinner for 4 with him and his wife at the Eau Gallie Yacht Club.  You could bring your kids or grandkids to dinner with an astronaut!  Who knows what kind of influence that could have on their lives?  Another raffle prize will be 4 all inclusive 2 day passes to the Kennedy Space Center, plus a framed 40 x 24 inch print by space artist Robert McCall, donated by the Astronaut Memorial Foundation.  This prize is worth  $650.  Captain Scott will also provide autographed copies of his book, Reflections from Earth Orbit, and autographed NASA photos of himself for each prize package.  Raffle tickets may be purchased in advance of the concert from band members or at the concert in the lobby.  The tickets will be 1 for $3 or 2 for $5.  All proceeds from this fundraiser will help the band purchase new chairs, stands and carpet for our band room.

If that wasn’t enough excitement for one concert, we’ll hear from Senator Bill Nelson, feature the Sunshine Brass Quintet, hear a special song written and sung by band member Robin Krasny commemorating lives lost on the Challenger, and the band will play its newly purchased Suite from The Star Wars Epic. 

We hope you decide to join the Melbourne Municipal Band as we Journey to the Stars.

Performing Group: Swingtime Jazz Band
Location: Melbourne Auditorium
Type: Dance

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