     |
Bands from branches of service to perform on Centre's campus
RELEASED: June 6, 2002
DANVILLE, KY-Patriotism will fill the air with 19 bands set to perform at the 13th annual Great American Brass Band Festival to be held June 14-16 in Danville. Known throughout the world as "America's greatest band concert in the park," the festival brings top international brass bands to Centre College's campus for three days of free public concerts and related events.
Last year's festival drew around 45,000 fans — the most ever for the event.
There are several highlights to this year's festival. To go along with the patriotic theme, bands from branches of military service will perform. They are the Band of the Air Force Reserve of Robbins Air Force Base, Georgia; the U.S. Marine Band Brass Quintet of Washington D.C.; and the 202nd Army Band from the Kentucky Army National Guard of Frankfort, Ky.
The Disneyland Band from California will also attend. It's one of the few times the band has performed outside the theme park.
There will be two bands from Germany and a band from Trinidad. Scott Kirby, a ragtime piano player from New Orleans, will also perform. The Olympia Brass Band will return. New Orlean's best-known brass band has performed in all 13 Great American Brass Band Festivals.
On Sunday, New York City police officer and acclaimed vocalist Daniel Rodriguez (the "singing policeman") will present a special performance to commemorate Americans who have died for their country. Rodriguez performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City (as did Centre professor and glassblowing artist Stephen Powell) and at "The National Memorial Day Concert" at the U.S. Capitol.
The band festival attracts thousands of music lovers from all 50 states and abroad each year. The Wall Street Journal called it a "monumental brass event."
George Foreman, managing director of Centre's Norton Center for the Arts and associate professor of humanities, is the festival's organizer and founder.
Click here for more information about the Great American Brass Band Festival.
- end -
Communications Office
Centre College
600 W. Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422
Public Information Coordinator: Telephone 859-238-5714