Melbourne Municipal Band’s Free February Concert Pays Tribute to Prolific American Composer, Sammy Nestico


  • Pre-show music provided by the V.I.P. Orchestra – a jazz combo
  • Special Guest Conductor appearance by Dr. David Waybright, University of Florida Director of Bands
MELBOURNE, FL, January 13, 2012 – Audiences around the world enjoy the jazz and patriotic music of American composer Sammy Nestico, and fans of his blues- and folk-influenced arrangements soon will have the chance to hear them in person. The Melbourne Municipal Band, under the direction of Principal Conductor Staci Cleveland, will present two free concerts that pay tribute to his talents on February 15 and 16, at 7:30 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd.

Nestico is best known for his arrangements for the Count Basie Orchestra, and the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine bands. His career also included the television and film industry, where he arranged and conducted projects for artists such as Frank Sinatra and Barbra Streisand and worked on popular TV programs, including Mission: Impossible and Charlie’s Angels.

“We are honored to recognize this fine composer and we are very grateful to him for donating the music for this program to us,” said Cleveland. “We’ll perform some of his best-loved work, including the Spirit of Liberty March, Tribute to Stephen Foster, Los Valentes, Brassman’s Holiday, Tribute to Harry James, and a beautiful alto saxophone solo, Persuasion, which will feature MMB member Charlie Almeida, who is a personal friend of Sammy’s.”

The evening also will include a special guest conductor performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’s English Folk Song Suite, by Dr. David Waybright, director of bands at the University of Florida. The V.I.P. Orchestra jazz combo will provide pre-show entertainment beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Call 724-0555 or visit www.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.

Media Contact:
Carmen L. Bright
Marketing Communications Associates, Inc.
Voice: 321-254-0171
Fax: 321-752-9814

Free ‘Starry Night’ Holiday Concert to Ring in Melbourne Municipal Band’s Season of Music and Giving


4 The Kids of Brevard and South Brevard Sharing Center to Benefit from Concert Toy and Food Drive
Special Guest Performance by Shuttle Astronaut Capt. Winston Scott

The stars will shine for the Melbourne Municipal Band’s annual holiday concert this year with three special performances in two different locations.

Music lovers will be able to attend the Starry Night concerts on December 14 and 15, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium, and on December 18 at 3 p.m. at The Scott Center at Holy Trinity Episcopal Upper School, 5625 Holy Trinity Drive in North Melbourne. There is no charge for the concert and tickets are not required.

The concerts also will serve as a collection point for two local charitable organizations – 4 The Kids of Brevard and the South Brevard Sharing Center. Concert attendees are invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy or a non-perishable food item.

“Our holiday concert is our musical gift to our audience members, and we’ll have everyone’s favorite holiday music,” said Principal Conductor Staci Cleveland.  “Those who enjoyed hearing Capt. Winston Scott last season, when he came to speak about his experiences as an astronaut onboard the Space Shuttle Columbia, will not want to miss the opportunity to hear him solo on the trumpet.”
The Oh Golly! Dixieland Band will present pre-show entertainment and it’s rumored that a special seasonal guest will make an appearance at the end of the concert.

Call 724-0555 or visit www.melbournemunicipalband.org for more information.

Media Contact
Carmen L. Bright
Marketing Communications Associates, Inc.
321.254.0171 (voice)
321.752.9814 (fax)

Swingtime Jazz Band “Unwraps” Its Holiday Dancing Season on December 2

MELBOURNE, FL, November 3, 2011 – The sounds of the holidays and popular seasonal dance tunes will take center stage at the Swingtime Jazz Band’s annual Holiday Ball on December 2nd at 7 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Bld., Melbourne. Dance tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door. Tables can be reserved in advance for six or more people by calling the band office at 724-0555.

“This is one of our most popular events of the year,” said Art Martin, conductor of Swingtime. “Many people reserve tables and use this evening to host their own holiday party for friends and family – complete with big band entertainment and dancing.”

Popular local vocalists Sally Hart and Len Fallen will perform. The band auxiliary will have a concession table with snacks, soft drinks, bottled water and ice for sale.

Those who would like to brush up on their dancing skills can do so from 6 to 7 p.m., when Laura Beers (www.adancersvoice.com or 751-4766) offers lessons. The fee for lessons is $5, payable to the instructor.

More information about this event and others is available by calling the band at 724-0555 or visiting melbournemunicipalband.org.

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.

Swingtime is the 18 to 21-piece “Big Band” dance ensemble of the MMB, playing music from the 1920s to the 1970s. The for-hire band features saxophones, trombones, trumpets, a piano, guitar, bass and trap set, along with two vocalists and a conductor/announcer.

Media Contact:
Carmen L. Bright
Marketing Communications Associates, Inc.
Voice: 321-254-0171
Fax: 321-752-9814

Melbourne Municipal Band’s New Symphonic Wind Ensemble Makes Its Concert Debut Sunday, November 6, in Suntree


Hal Gibson Conducts Ensemble’s Free “Momentous Moments in Music” Program

MELBOURNE, FL, October 29, 2011 – The new Symphonic Wind Ensemble of the Melbourne Municipal Band will present its premiere performance on Sunday, November 6 at 3:00 pm at the Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Road, in Melbourne. The concert is free and tickets are not required.

Well-known veteran conductor and Viera resident Hal Gibson will conduct the ensemble as it presents a program titled “Momentous Moments in Music.”

“The Symphonic Wind Ensemble brings together the very finest area players who are capable of performing music of the highest order at a very high standard,” explains Gibson. “We had our first rehearsal last Saturday and I was elated with the results. This is a program that lovers of good music will not want to miss.”

The concert will feature major compositions such as the Manx Overture, by Haydn Wood; George Washington Bridge, by William Schuman; and a very special rendition of Crown Imperial – Coronation March, by Sir William Walton, written for the coronation of King George VI in 1937.  What makes this performance special is that the wind ensemble will combine forces with the organ and the major talents of local organist Thomas Taylor.

Another “momentous musical moment” will be the performance of Richard Wagner’s Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral.  This piece prefaces Elsa’s betrothal to Lohengrin from the opera of the same name, and is one of the most dynamic and climactic works in all of the operatic literature. Organist Thomas Taylor will again join the ensemble in the culmination of this majestic masterwork.
Also included on the program will be the iconic work for winds, the Second Suite in F for Military Band, by Gustav Holst.

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble of the Melbourne Municipal Band is a new musical organization focused on the performance of the most notable music written, or arranged for, wind instruments.  Its members are some of the finest, most experienced players in the Central Florida, performing music to the highest standards.

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.

Media Contact:
Carmen L. Bright
Marketing Communications Associates, Inc.
Voice: 321-254-0171
Fax: 321-752-9814

Swingtime Jazz Band Presents “A Salute to Our Veterans” Dance on November 10

MELBOURNE, FL, October 14, 2011 – Active-duty and retired military members with ID will receive free admission to the Swingtime Jazz Band’s “A Salute Our Veterans” dance on November 10.  Swingtime – the dance band of the Melbourne Municipal Band  - is using the Veteran’s Day event to recognize the men and women who serve and have served our nation.

“The band is very excited about this dance and the opportunity to say thank you to our nation’s military for the sacrifices they make,” said Art Martin, conductor.  “Many of the Swingtime and Melbourne Municipal Band members are themselves veterans and got their musical start in military bands, so this has a very special meaning for us.”

The dance will include a wide variety of music, including popular swing, waltz, polkas and Latin selections. Swingtime vocalists Sally Hart, a singing star with the Lawrence Welk Show, and Len Fallen, another local favorite, also will be featured.  Just a few of the selections to be performed will be Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, In The Mood, Pennsylvania 6-5000, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie, and At Last.

The dance begins at 7 p.m. Those who would like to brush up on their dancing skills can do so from 6 to 7 p.m., when Laura Beers (www.adancersvoice.com or 751-4766) offers lessons. The fee for lessons is $5, payable to the instructor.

Dance tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door for non-veterans. Swingtime, considered one of the finest jazz and big band groups in the Southeast, also is available for hire for community, church and other social functions.  More information about the event, ticket locations, and the band is available by visiting melbournemunicipalband.org or calling 724-0555.

About the Melbourne Municipal Band
The Melbourne Municipal Band, 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.

Swingtime is the 18 to 21-piece “Big Band” dance ensemble of the MMB, playing music from the 1920s to the 1970s. The for-hire band features saxophones, trombones, trumpets, a piano, guitar, bass and trap set, along with two vocalists and a conductor/announcer.

Media Contact:
Carmen L. Bright
Marketing Communications Associates, Inc.
Voice: 321-254-0171
Fax: 321-752-9814

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