Village Concert Series - New England Brass Band

Brought back by popular demand, the 30-piece New England Brass Band will perform again at Sandwich Town Hall on Saturday, February 8th at 7 pm as part of the Village Concert Series made possible by the Sandwich Arts Alliance. Tickets ($25 general admission/$10 students) are available at the SAA Center at 124 Route 6A, Sandwich or online at www.sandwichartsalliance.org.

This year the band will feature a cosmic theme which celebrates the recent 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic mission, the first lunar landing of mankind. Music director Stephen Bulla’s “Von Braun Suite” will be featured, having received its premier at a NASA gala event honoring living astronaut “moon walkers” who were present for the performance. The concert will bring space theme together with the idea of time travel, both from the past and “back to the future”. It will also feature several of the band’s soloists and composer Peter Graham’s exciting masterwork, “The Essence Of Time.”

“It’s important to note that the New England Brass Band plays in the English style so the sound is more like that of a smooth and lyrical orchestra than a marching band”, explained Vice President of Programming Diane Scharf. “If you’ve never experienced this sound you are in for both a surprise and a treat.”

Featured on WGBH and described as “British Music from the Time of Downton Abbey” the New England Brass Band appeals to a wide cross section of music lovers. Founded in 1988, this 30-piece brass and percussion ensemble adheres to the instrumentation of the “British Brass Band” tradition, which has its roots in the social betterment of the working classes in early 19th century England.

Based in Boston but with members from every New England state, the NEBB has played for audiences across the northeast and has won first place for several years at the North American Brass Band Association National Championship. Since their 2008 season, the NEBB has been guided by the distinguished talents of Stephen Bulla, who served as Chief Arranger to The President’s Own U.S. Marine Band and White House Orchestra for thirty years where he was responsible for the production of ceremonial and entertainment music for the administrations of Ronald Reagan through 2010.

“The Sandwich Arts Alliance is thrilled to have the band back in town after their moving performance in 2017 which appealed to so many people across the Cape and beyond,” added Scharf.