Southern Stars to perform at brass band festival in KY

Things To Do

Related Photos

The members of Southern Stars Symphonic Brass will represent Crossville in the Great American Brass Band Festival next month. Dwight Wages, SSSB founder and member, expects this performance to booth the group’s national recognition.

May 20, 2010

Anonymous Submitted The Crossville Chronicle Thu May 20, 2010, 02:11 PM CDT

CROSSVILLE — Crossville's Southern Stars Symphonic Brass (SSSB) has been invited to perform a concert at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, KY, in June.

"This event is the preeminent brass band festival in all of North America, and was one of the top goals on our mission statement of objectives for the band to become nationally recognized," said SSSB founder and member Dwight Wages. "To be invited to this in only the third year of our organization is a tribute to not only the band, but to those who have supported us to date. We are very grateful for that support."

This festival is in its 21st season of providing free concerts featuring top professional brass ensembles from North America and occasionally Europe, Wages said. This season there will be 15 different ensembles performing for the weekend festival, scheduled for June 12-13. There will be two other brass bands the size of the SSSB, three brass quintets, two New Orleans/Cajun style brass bands, the 202nd US Army band, a Dixieland group, a Civil War era band, a jazz/big band, a wind ensemble band, and even a Clown band, Wages said.

"To be invited to perform here is validation that we are being recognized outside of the Tennessee area and will really boost our national recognition," Wages said. "This weekend event often brings 30-40 thousand visitors to Danville, and it is not uncommon to perform for an audience of 10,000."

The band members are excited to be representing Crossville at this event, Wages said. "Despite the fact many of the band's members have been professional musicians for several decades, few have had the opportunity to play for an audience of the size that will be there in Danville, or maybe even cumulatively, for their entire career," he said.

The band's concert is scheduled for Saturday, June 12, at 2 p.m. on the Main Stage on the mall of Centre College in Danville. They have 10 scheduled pieces to perform that day, including "Misty," "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" and selections from "Chicago" the musical.

"We hope that some of our supporters can come up to hear this special performance, plus have the opportunity to hear other tremendous music from the other ensembles," Wages said.

Concerts begin at 9 a.m. on June 12 and continue until 10 p.m. that evening. Concerts will begin again at noon on Sunday, and continue to 5 p.m, with free admission. Danville is only 115 miles north of Crossville and you can easily go up and back on the same day to enjoy these concerts in a relaxed outdoor atmosphere, Wages said.

Wages says if you like what the SSSB does, then the other two 30 piece brass bands present are "guaranteed to thrill you at another level." Fountain City Brass Band has won the North American and US Open championships four consecutive years and just returned from a tour of the United Kingdom, where they won the Scottish Open Championships against 20 other UK brass bands. The Canadian Staff Band of the Salvation Army is also recognized as one of the very top bands internationally. The website for more information about the festival is GABBF.com. If you would like more information about the festival, you may call Dwight Wages at 484-6939 or email at dwight.wages@gmail.com.

"The Southern Stars will be representing Crossville at this event, and we are thankful for financial sponsorship from the City of Crossville to help defray expenses for the band to perform in Danville," Wages said. Since the event in Danville is attended by visitors from around the country, the band's performance will be "helpful in letting the audience become aware of this cultural gem and the fact that Crossville has a lot to offer visitors and future residents," he said.

Text Only

Things To Do

CCP presents love story set on WWII home front
The Cumberland County Playhouse continues its 2012 Adventure Theater season with Arlene Hutton’s See Rock City.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Stingray Anthony coming to town June 2 for two shows
Stingray Anthony Rock & Roll Review comes to downtown Crossville at the Palace Theatre June 2 for two big shows.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Achison takes Palace stage for First Friday event June 1
PAART is continuing their First Friday performance series with Australian blues/roots guitar sensation Geoff Achison. Achison, whose sound combines elements of blues, funk and jam band music, is returning to Crossville for the third year in a row to perform on the stage of the beautiful Palace Theatre at 7 p.m. CDT on June 1.

May 24, 2012
Three talented musicians to perform in Pleasant Hill
Music lovers in the area are in for a treat. Danilo Mezzadri on the flute, with wife, Susan Ruggiero, soprano, accompanied by Emily Byrens on the piano will combine their considerable talents in concert Wednesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. in the Pleasant Hill Community Church, UCC.

May 17, 2012 2 Photos
First Saturday dances return to Hebbertsburg beginning June 2
It isn’t officially summer yet, but the weather is warm, it stays light late, Saturday nights are for having fun and we have the perfect fun suggestion for you. The first Saturday of each month (through September), the Hebbertsburg Community Center invites everyone in the area to join them for live music, dancing, home cooked food and family fun from 6-9 p.m.

May 17, 2012
Broadway, Hollywood star Bob Gunton returns to Tennessee
As the Cumberland County Playhouse approaches its 50th birthday, it begins its Golden Anniversary Series of events celebrating its colorful history with Broadway and Hollywood star, singer, and actor Bob Gunton in the world premiere of his new autobiographical show, Walking on Water: A Journey in Musical Theater and Song.

May 10, 2012 2 Photos
Big Band Sound plays Friday at Fairfield
The 21-piece Big Band Sound will play its only Friday night dance of the 2012 schedule at Fairfield Glade on May 11 at the Community and Conference Center.

May 10, 2012
Cowboys! returns to Playhouse
The hilarious Western swing musical Cowboys! has returned to the Playhouse stage for the first time in over 30 years… and it’s better — and funnier — than ever! CCP’s 1981 world premiere production played to uproarious laughter and sellout houses, and now Cowboys! is back to delight a whole new generation of audiences, prior to its national release!

May 10, 2012 1 Photo
Community Band, Chorus combine for benefit concert Sunday
Sunday, the Cumberland County Community Band, directed by Brian Bacon, and the Cumberland County Community Chorus, directed by Marty Gibson, will combine for a special scholarship fund benefit concert at Stone Memorial High School in Crossville.

May 4, 2012
Pow Wow on the Plateau to honor ‘all survivors’
Pow Wow on the Plateau is happening here in Crossville May 12-13 at the Cumberland County Community Complex (fairgrounds). This event is a chance for everyone to come out and enjoy another culture for a weekend. The theme is "Honoring All Survivors."

May 3, 2012 1 Photo
More Things To Do Headlines

Things To Do

Search Results

Related Photos

Southern Stars to perform at brass band festival in KY

Site Map

Contact Us