America’s Brass Band movement began with the formation of community bands—musicians who gathered for the sheer joy of filling their town parks and squares with music. Many of these musicians brought their talents and instruments from the British Isles during Colonial America. The rich tones of brass took on new purpose during the Civil War period as soldiers for the North and South alike played and marched for their causes. American marching bands, concert bands and military bands flourished, along with unique American musical styles—Dixieland, Swing and of course, Jazz—all cousins of traditional brass music. Today the brass movement is alive and well, reverberating deep, rich tones of brass through American towns and cities including historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

While The Gettysburg Festival ~ Celebrating America marks its debut in 2008, its lineup of about 25 spectacular brass groups is affiliated with a Gettysburg tradition eleven years strong, The Gettysburg Brass Band Festival. This Festival has evolved into one of the premier musical events in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Participants over the years include a wide variety of brass performers; brass quintets, trombone and tuba quartets, British style brass bands, American style brass bands, Dixieland bands, brass choirs, Civil War period bands, community bands, drum and bugle corps, military brass, and even a brass band performing on a bandwagon.

We welcome many performers back for their eleventh year with The Gettysburg Brass Band Festival while celebrating a new beginning with The Gettysburg Festival. Additionally, we are proud to announce the formation and debut performance of The Gettysburg Festival Brass for 2008, a 15 piece brass and percussion ensemble dedicated to reliving the excitement of musical America. Strike up the band!

Events
Print a Full Brass Band Festival Schedule

Gramercy Brass Orchestra of New York
Majestic Theater
Sunday, June 22, 2008 ~ 3:00 PM

“The Gettysburg Festival Celebrates Community”
A Community Concert Showcasing Adams County Community Bands
Gettysburg Festival Main Stage at Gettysburg College
Thursday, June 19, 2008 ~ 7:00 PM

Black Rose Brass Quintet
Lincoln Square
Friday, June 20, 2008 ~ 12:00 PM

Cumberland Brass Quintet
The Historic Gettysburg Hotel, Lincoln Square
Friday, June 20, 2008 ~ 6:00 PM

Market Street Brass
The Historic Dobbin House
Friday, June 20, 2008 ~ 6:00 PM

Harmony Cornet Band Performs on Traveling Bandwagon
Throughout Downtown Gettysburg
Throughout Downtown Gettysburg
Friday, June 20, 2008 ~ 7:00 PM

The Sand Trap Brass
“Get into the Swing”
Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station Pavilion
Friday, June 20, 2008 ~ 7:00 PM

The Capitol Dixieland Band
“Get into the Swing”
Historic Gettysburg Railroad Station Pavilion
Friday, June 20, 2008 ~ 8:00 PM

The Slide Show
"Saturday Morning on the Square"
Lincoln Square
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 9:00 AM

The Gettysburg Festival Brass
“Gettysburg Festival Celebrates Summer”
Festival Main Stage at Gettysburg College
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 10:00 AM

The Heritage Brass Quintet
“Saturday Morning on the Square”
Lincoln Square
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 10:00 AM

Benfield Brass Band
“Gettysburg Festival Celebrates Summer”
Festival Main Stage at Gettysburg College
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 11:00 AM

Wildcat Regiment Band Concert
The Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 11:00 AM

Greenwood Brass Choir
“Gettysburg Festival Celebrates Summer”
Festival Main Stage
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 12:00 PM

Spires Brass Band
“Gettysburg Festival Celebrates Summer”
Festival Main Stage
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 1:00 PM

Mercersburg Area Community Band
The Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 2:00 PM

Philadelphia German Brass Band
“Gettysburg Festival Celebrates Summer”
Festival Main Stage
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 2:00 PM

The Coburn Brass Band
The American Civil War Museum & Gettysburg Gift Center
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 2:00 PM

Wildcat Regiment Band Concert
The Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 3:00 PM

The Gettysburg Festival Celebrates Military Excellence
A Concert Featuring: The Hanover Lancers Drum & Bugle Corps The Jazz Ambassadors of the United States Army Field Band
Gettysburg Festival Main Stage at Gettysburg College
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

The Jazz Ambassadors of the United States Army Field Band
Chief Warrant Officer Gordon Kippola, Director, and Master Sergeant Marva Lewis, Lead Vocalist
Gettysburg Festival Main Stage at Gettysburg College
Saturday, June 21, 2008 ~ 7:00 PM

St. Paul's Brass
Historic Gettysburg Train Station Pavillion
Sunday, June 22, 2008 ~ 2:00 PM

Gettysburg Festival Brass and Organ Concert
Featuring Nancianne Parrella, Organ and The Gettysburg Festival Brass
Joseph Flummerfelt, Conductor
Christ Chapel, Gettysburg College
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 ~ 4:00 PM

The United States Marine Forces Reserve Band, New Orleans
Festival Main Stage at Gettysburg College
Saturday, June 28, 2008 ~ 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

All artists, repertoire, performance dates, times, venues
are subject to change.

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