Eric Fennell is firmly established as one of today’s leading international vocalists over a twenty-year career as an operatic lyric tenor and concert artist. Mr. Fennell will be the guest vocalist with award-winning Atlantic Brass Band at the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival on Saturday, June 7 at 5:00 p.m. His debut came in James Robinson’s production of La Bohème as Rodolfo at Glimmerglass Opera in New York. This led to roles during the next six seasons for New York City Opera, including Alfredo in La Traviata and Narraboth in Salomé. In 2009, he made his European debut singing Verdi’s Requiem for the Latvian National Symphony. Eric’s many concert appearances include tenor solos in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony for the National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall, Tokyo City Orchestra, Cairo Symphony, and Buffalo Philharmonic Symphony.
A native of Pennsylvania, Eric’s first passion was ice hockey. He played for the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers through high school, and captained his team at Gettysburg College while earning a B.A. in Music. He continued his education at Boston University, earning an M.M. in Performance and a Professional Studies diploma as a member of the Opera Institute at B.U. Since 2010, Mr. Fennell has been a resident of Berlin, Germany. Mr. Fennell will perform di Capua’s “O sole mio,” “Torna surriento” by Ernesto de Curtis and Puccini’s “Nessun dorma” from his opera, Turandot.
Three-time National Champion Atlantic Brass Band is a premier volunteer performing ensemble in the greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey area as well as are artists-in-residence at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. Comprised of professional musicians, professors, educators, and community members, the band is committed to bringing the arts to the community through entertainment, educational collaborations, and fundraising efforts for local schools and charities. The band’s repertoire spans hymns, marches, orchestral transcriptions, pop music, and traditional brass band literature. The ABB has performed internationally with a tour of Italy, two tours of England, and an appearance at both NATO JFC Brunssum and the World Brass Band Championship in Kerkrade, Netherlands.
Salvatore Scarpa is Music Director & Conductor of Atlantic Brass Band. Sal is a retired member of the Rowan University faculty, where he was Director of Orchestras, and taught conducting, music theory, and music history. For many years he was also a member of the conducting staff of Philadelphia Ballet, Music Director & Conductor of Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company, a regular guest conductor for the Orvieto Festival of Strings (Italy), and a long-serving church musician. He is a graduate of Rowan University and the Eastman School of Music.
Eric relates that “I’m very excited about performing at the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival. Not only is it my debut at the festival, but it also provides an opportunity to collaborate with the renowned Atlantic Brass Band, as I enjoy collaborating with organizations outside the opera house. It is also a homecoming for me since I am a 1995 graduate of Gettysburg College! I consider myself very fortunate that the College encouraged me to pursue a career in music and I am still in close contact with many of my professors.”
The Gettysburg Brass Band Festival is in its 28th year and attracts some 4000 listeners annually to main stage performances at the United Lutheran Seminary and venues around the borough. Brass bands are the main feature of the festival that includes the poignant Taps Tribute on Saturday evening.