Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
Atlantic Brass Band, one of North America’s premier brass bands, proudly serves as the Ensemble-in-Residence at Rowan University. Its members include a diverse group of educators, college students, professional musicians, and non-music professionals, all united by their passion for brass band music.
Originally founded as the Wheaton Brass Band in 1984 by Yorkshire-born Herb Roselle and his wife Lucy, Atlantic Brass Band is one of the oldest brass bands of its kind in North America. The band presents an annual season filled with concerts, contests, and festival performances of all types. Over the years, Atlantic has been a regular feature at prominent events such as the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival, International Trumpet Guild Conference, Great American Brass Band Festival, National Trumpet Competition, Music Educators National Conference Eastern Division, and the New Jersey Music Educators Conference.
Atlantic’s reach also extends internationally, with past tours of Italy and the U.K., performances in Canada, and participation in prestigious competitions like the 2013 World Brass Band Championships (Netherlands), the 2018 Brass in Concert contest (England), and the 2018 Scottish Open (Scotland). Most recently, in November 2024, the band returned to the Scottish Open, where it secured an impressive third-place finish. Additionally, Greg Kuhn (flugelhorn) was honored with the Best Soloist award, further solidifying Atlantic’s reputation for excellence.
Atlantic is honored to host the Mid-Atlantic Brass Band Festival, held every February since 2012. The band has also recently relaunched the Rowan Atlantic Youth Brass Band in collaboration with Rowan University and its Community Music School, fostering the next generation of brass musicians. Additionally, Atlantic has produced several albums, with their most recent release, "Metropolis," debuting in 2017. To keep up to date with future performances, please follow us on Facebook and visit atlanticbrassband.net.
Atlantic Brass Band
Conductor's Bio
As Music Director and Conductor, Salvatore Scarpa has led the Atlantic Brass Band to remarkable achievements, including three North American Brass Band Championships and the 2017 U.S. Open Championship. Before his retirement, he served as Director of Orchestras at Rowan University, where he conducted the University Orchestra and Opera Company productions while also teaching conducting, music theory, and music history. Currently, he is the Music Director and Conductor of the Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company and frequently guest conducts for the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Orvieto Festival of Strings in Italy.
A graduate of both the Eastman School of Music and Rowan University, Mr. Scarpa is part of a versatile generation of musicians equally adept in classical, jazz, and popular music. His compositions have been commissioned by esteemed groups such as the Empire Brass, the Philadelphia Pops, and the International Trombone Association. Additionally, he has written several theater scores and won a DownBeat Magazine “Dee Bee” award for Best Jazz Arrangement. As a member of the inaugural BMI Jazz Composers Workshop and Assistant Music Director for the Grammy Award-winning production Zappa’s Universe, Mr. Scarpa’s career reflects a dynamic blend of creativity and excellence across musical genres.
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