“When we see a town with flourishing enterprises, such as newspapers, schools, libraries, picture galleries, literary and scientific societies, concert halls, theaters, Brass Bands, etc., we need not be told that it is the dwelling place of intelligent and cultivated people.”
Excerpt from George F. Patton’s A Practical Guide To The Arrangement of Band Music, 1875
This June, the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival will celebrate 28 years of free music in the historic heart of Gettysburg. Started in 1997 on a thought by Ben Jones, then the band director for Gettysburg High School, it now still includes Ben and all his contacts, and is funded solely by the generosity of this community and lead by a core group of dedicated volunteers.
Several groups could be considered founding members of the Brass Band Festival, including The Gettysburg Times, The Gettysburg Tour Center, Well Span Health, Music Gettysburg! Concert Series, Gettysburg College and Gettysburg National Military Park. Since the start of this event, these groups have held strong in their commitment and support for continuing the free concerts. So many others along the way, too many to name, have helped the Brass Band Festival grow and thrive. This year our main sponsors are the United Lutheran Theological Seminary, the Music Gettysburg! Concert Series and Destination Gettysburg.
The Festival holds true to its commitment to provide a “life after high school” experience to the many students in school bands as well as a performance opportunity for bands from all over the country and worldwide, providing live music and improving the quality of life in our historic town. Past performers to the festival have included The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, The United States Army “Old Guard” Fife and Drum, The United States Army Field Band and Soldiers Chorus, The Quantico Marine Band. The River City Brass Band, The Boston Brass, The Grammercy Brass Orchestra, the Athena all-female, all-star Brass Band and the United States Army Herald Trumpets. But it’s also the local community bands that round out all the performances and they will be a big part of the 2025 lineup which features 21 bands.
It is important to note that anyone can come to the festival because it is not a stationary event. Concerts begin Wednesday evening, on the grounds of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, as the local Adams County Community Band and the Generation Big Band perform on the Lutheran Seminary Main Stage. Hoping for a gorgeous evening, the public is invited to bring their chairs, blankets and even their dinner and enjoy the music as the sun sets.
Fundraising is an important part of the festival, as such, the Tuba Open Golf Brass Benefit takes place at the Carroll Valley Golf Resort early on Thursday morning. The Al Fresco Jazz Brass Benefit dinner and jazz event takes place at the Seminary Main Stage Thursday evening. The money raised during these events is vital to the continuation of the festival. As part of the fundraising process, commemorative 28th Anniversary T-shirts will be sold on site at the festival.
Then on Friday evening several bands will perform throughout town, including the Ben Jones Brass on the Dobbin House Patio, Lancers Drum and Bugle Corps on the lawn of the Gettysburg Heritage Center, Three Fathoms Jazz on the Lincoln Square Arts Oasis Stage, Antebellum Marine Band at Mr. G’s and the Imperial Brass Quintet at Fourscore Beer. Again, it’s a relaxed evening of great music and the public is encouraged to bring their chairs and blankets to enjoy it all.
On Saturday, June 7 the DAY 1 BRASS BAND SPECTACULAR features bands performing from 11 to 7. On Sunday, June 8, the Day 2 BRASS BAND SPECTACULAR will feature bands performing from 12 until 5; two days of listening to 13 brass bands from 7 states performing traditional British brass band literature concert marches, popular standards & opera overtures
The ever-popular Lions Club Picnic with delicious food and beer will be available on-site for purchase. International Knitting Day will be celebrated Saturday.
The exciting West Philadelphia Orchestra Brass Band will be performing at the Dobbin House Patio Saturday evening at 7:15.
The Gettysburg Brass Band Festival closes Saturday evening at sundown with the moving “Taps” Tribute as buglers stationed throughout the Gettysburg Battlefield from Little Round Top to the Seminary Cupola, honor those who fought and died here.
The Gettysburg Brass Band Festival continues to be an important part of community events in Gettysburg and we encourage everyone to come and enjoy the music! The Gettysburg Brass Band Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization. Tax deductible donations are payable to the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival and can be sent to P.O. Box 3491, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Visit the festival web site: www.gettysburgbrassbandfestival.com