Melbourne Municipal Band Salutes Heroes of 9/11 with Special “Never Forget” Concerts September 28 & 29

MELBOURNE, FL, August 12, 2011 – The Melbourne Municipal Band will pay tribute to all the heroes of September 11, 2001 with a collection of patriotic and stirring music at its September 28 and 29 concerts, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. There is no charge and tickets are not required.

The evening will feature a beautiful tribute called Never Forget, written by local composer and former firefighter John Ryan, and sung by Laurie Broadway, band director at Jefferson Middle School in Merritt Island. The program also features a march called First Responders, written by another local composer, Michael Rowsey, band director at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne.

“This program will lift your spirits and remind you of why we are proud to call America our home,” said Principal Conductor Staci Cleveland.

The concert also will include selections such as Hymn to the Fallen, America the Beautiful, The Chimes of Liberty, and The Stars and Stripes Forever.

Call 724-0555 or visit www.mmband.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 Kicks Off Fall Dance Season September 23

MELBOURNE, FL, August 12, 2011 – The Swingtime Jazz Band – the dance ensemble of the Melbourne Municipal Band  - is kicking up its heels and starting its 2011-2012 season with the annual Fall Kick-Off Ball on Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium. Dance tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door.

The dance will include a wide variety of selections covering swing, waltz, polkas and Latin music – as well as the occasional rock tune. The audience will be treated to some new arrangements of old favorites.

Several soloists will be featured during the performance. Swingtime vocalists Sally Hart, a singing star with the Lawrence Welk Show, and Len Fallen, another local favorite, also will be featured.

“The band is looking forward to playing for everyone after two months off,” said Art Martin, conductor.  “We play different styles of music with different beats and anyone who enjoys dancing or who just likes to listen to great music, is more than welcome.”

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.

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 www.mmband.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

Free “American Commemoration” Concert Brings Nation’s History to Life with Music on August 10 and 11

Well-known Guest Conductors Col. Hal Gibson (Ret.) and Dr. Dan Bolin Take the Stage at “Not-In-The-Park” Picnic Concert

MELBOURNE, FL, June 27, 2011 – The sounds of American history will fill the air when the Melbourne Municipal Band (MMB) presents its “American Commemoration” concerts on August 10 and 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Admission is free.

Col. Hal Gibson (Ret.), a well-known conductor who has made the Space Coast his home for the past 18 years, and Dr. Dan Bolin, chair of the School of Music at Butler University in Indianapolis and a part-time resident of Brevard County, will lead the band as it recognizes important dates in our nation’s history with appropriate music selections.

Selections will include “American Civil War Fantasy,” by Jerry Bilik; “The Gladiator March,” written by John Philip Sousa for the dedication of the Statue of Liberty 125 years ago; and two World War I pieces.

Gibson, who was a conductor of the U.S. Army Field Band and is Professor Emeritus at Columbus State University in Georgia as well as a veteran of World War II, will conduct Richard Rodgers’ stirring score for the video series, Victory at Sea. Called “The Homefront: Musical Memories of WWII,” this contains many of the pop tunes enjoyed by those who waited at home. He also will conduct “South Pacific.” The program concludes with musical remembrances of the Viet Nam war and closes with a solemn remembrance of 9/11 with the playing of “God of our Fathers.”

“Dr. Bolin and I are very pleased to be able to conduct this concert and we know that the audience will be inspired by this musical journey through our nation’s history,” said Gibson, who was recently awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree by Columbus State University for his contributions to its world-class Schwob School of Music.

The concert is the last of the band’s annual Not-In-The-Park Picnic concerts and the audience is invited to bring family, friends and a picnic dinner to enjoy. Instead of traditional concert seating, long tables will be set up to enable a ‘dinner and show’ experience and audience members can bring along their picnic dinners. Drinks, ice and snacks will be available for purchase at the Concession Table.

There is no charge for the concert and tickets are not required. Doors open at 5:30. 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

Stay “Cool” with Free Swingtime Jazz Band Concert July 20 and 21

Summertime Favorites On Tap for Annual July Jazz Picnic

MELBOURNE, FL, June 23, 2011 – “The Cool Sounds of Swingtime” is the theme of the Swingtime Jazz Band’s free concert July 20 and 21 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Avenue. The event is the second of the band’s annual Not-In-The-Park Picnic concerts and the audience is invited to bring family, friends and a picnic dinner to enjoy.

A breezy summer program will feature such favorites as Jump Jive and Wail, Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man, All The Things You Are, Love Will Keep Us Together, Orange Colored Sky, and many more. Popular local vocalists Sally Hart, who performed with Lawrence Welk, and Len Fallen, also well known on the Space Coast, will be featured.

The band is under the direction of Conductor Art Martin, tenor and baritone saxophonist, who has performed with Warren Covington, the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie and The Platters, to name a few.

Instead of traditional concert seating, long tables will be set up to enable a ‘dinner and show’ experience and audience members can bring along their picnic dinners. Drinks, ice and snacks will be available for purchase at the concession table.

There is no charge for the concert and tickets are not required. Doors open at 5:30. Call 724-0555 or visit melbournemunicipalband.org for more information.

Swingtime, part of the Melbourne Municipal Band, is a 20-piece jazz band, 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.

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

Reminder: Summer Youth Band Music Program

Time is running out for the Summer Youth Band Music Program! Click here to download the REGISTRATION FORM FOR SUMMER YOUTH BAND 2011.

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