The Mid-Atlantic Brass Band Festival was held in the Wilson Concert Hall on Feb. 8, and Feb. 9, with vendors and performances by 7 different brass bands from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. There were also a variety of workshops hosted throughout the weekend ranging from masterclasses taught by professionals and yoga tailored to musicians. 

The performances began around 10 a.m. and ended around 2 p.m., with an intermission in the middle for lunch. Each band delivered intricate performances, with many pieces lasting longer than the 3 to 5-minute songs audiences might be used to. Many of the pieces even went as long as 15 minutes, which displayed the stamina and technical skill these musicians possess. 

Jordan Kinsey, the current band director for the Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, explained the process for selecting the pieces the bands play. 

“I provide some ideas, so we end up with around 15 pieces, which we can’t do them all. Then, we narrow it down from there. I have the final say,” said Kinsey.

The festival featured musicians of various ages, showcasing a diverse range of performers. Some bands consisted of older people, some were younger people, and there was a good amount that was a mix of both. Everyone seemed to enjoy having the opportunity to perform music with each other. 

Matt Greco, a member of the Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, explained the members of the group.

“It’s not a lot of young kids. It’s mostly retired band directors and people who want to keep playing after their prime. But, for us, it was just sort of filling out those missing parts,” said Greco.

During the program’s lunch break, everyone convened by the vendors’ stalls outside of the concert hall. The musicians were all talking to each other, remembering old events, or catching up with each other. The vendor’s products ranged from sheet music, parts for instruments, and a snack stand. The festival isn’t a competition between the bands, instead, the musicians participating are people who want to play for fun in their free time. 

Jackson Duffy, a member of the Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, spoke about the process of becoming a member of the band.

“[It’s] very low stakes. There’s no auditioning; we rarely make cuts, you know. It’s very welcoming,” Duffy said.

The musicians are a part of a tight-knit community, and they all were quite encouraging and uplifting to each other. 

All College of Performing Arts events are free to attend for Rowan students. Some of these events, like band performances or theater productions, might not be something students typically experience in classrooms. However, some students may find these live productions to be a melodic retreat for them from schoolwork.

For comments/questions about this story DM us on Instagram @thewhitatrowan or email arts@thewhitonline.com