Laura Warsewicz

February 9, 2020
News Story

The Whit
Rowan University’s Ninth Annual Mid-Atlantic Brass Band Kicks Off the Weekend

GLASSBORO, NJ, Feb. 8, 2020- On Saturday, February 8, 2020 between 1pm and 5pm, seven
brass bands stole the stage at Rowan University’s Pfleeger Concert Hall for the ninth annual
Mid-Atlantic Brass Band Festival (MABBF).

“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I walked into the music hall,” said Brandon Campbell, a
Rowan University alumni. “When I hear the word ‘festival,’ I automatically picture huge crows
and tons of vendors. The Mid Atlantic Brass Band Festival was all about the music itself. It was
refreshing to just be able to sit back and enjoy the music.”

The afternoon was full of music from various styles of brass bands. One band, the Clarkson
Brass, is a 10 piece ensemble. They traveled from Ontario, Canada to join the festival. Rowan’s
own Salvatore Scarpa stood in for the band’s conductor, Neil Barlow. He could not make it down
to New Jersey for the competition.

Another of the seven bands, Rockville, said farewell to a fellow bandmate. Professional Baritone
Horn player, Mariko Fukao will return back home to Tokyo, Japan. Her performance at MABBF
will be the last before her departure.

Rockville was a British style brass band. They attend the MABBF every year excluding the first.
The band is made up of thirty-one members and is conducted by Nigel Horne. Horne has been
with the band since the start of the 2009-2010 season.

The performances were halted to announce the winners of the Youth Solo Competition. The
competition took place earlier in the day. The third place award went to Maryanne Kahn, second
place was awarded to George Neumas, and Brooke Jamoski won first place.

The festival continued on Sunday, February 9th. Three more brass bands performed between
12:20pm and 3:25pm. The brass bands consisted of Atlantic, Lambertville, and Atlantic with
James Gourlay and Jason Sulliman.

Once the last of the bands performed, several coaching sessions took place.
Contact:
Laura Warsewicz
856-993-4791
warsew13@students.rowan.edu