A Word From the Founder
Margie Craver
Founder and 2012-2016 Festival Chair
"The Mid-Atlantic Brass Band Festival was an idea I had in 2011. Every year the Atlantic Brass Band (ABB) went to compete at a national brass band competition, but 2011 was different. ABB won the North American Brass Band Championship title, and during that night's celebration party, there was a lot of discussion as to how to keep the momentum of such an outstanding achievement alive. I started thinking of all the possibilities and the idea of a localized showcase for area brass bands to perform, receive comments, and attend masterclasses from professional international adjudicators was born. The first year of the festival was 2012.
I love to learn and be challenged. With the support of the ABB board and continued support of Rowan University, the festival has grown every year to bring international artists, with the highlight in 2016 of the Cory Band, from Wales, which is the #1 brass band in the world. The biggest challenge was influencing people to believe MABBF would be successful. Quite a bit of work is behind the scenes, and a lot of support from many people continue to make this annual festival the success it is today.
The festival brings together multiple generations of people, who may discover new ways to enjoy playing and listening to music and improve their talents to bring back to their local communities. Continued education is the key driver of the festival, while having fun and making new friends.
I have now retired to Florida and continue to play in brass bands and fulfill my lifelong music education by attending brass band summer schools in Wales and England."
I love to learn and be challenged. With the support of the ABB board and continued support of Rowan University, the festival has grown every year to bring international artists, with the highlight in 2016 of the Cory Band, from Wales, which is the #1 brass band in the world. The biggest challenge was influencing people to believe MABBF would be successful. Quite a bit of work is behind the scenes, and a lot of support from many people continue to make this annual festival the success it is today.
The festival brings together multiple generations of people, who may discover new ways to enjoy playing and listening to music and improve their talents to bring back to their local communities. Continued education is the key driver of the festival, while having fun and making new friends.
I have now retired to Florida and continue to play in brass bands and fulfill my lifelong music education by attending brass band summer schools in Wales and England."
Past MABBFs
2019
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Imperial Brass Band (1st appearance), Lambertville Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band, Rowan University Brass Band
Clinicians: Tom Hutchinson, Michael Fowles
Solo Competition Winners:
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Imperial Brass Band (1st appearance), Lambertville Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band, Rowan University Brass Band
Clinicians: Tom Hutchinson, Michael Fowles
Solo Competition Winners:
2018
Location: Rowan University
Bands: A Little Wind Music (Canada), Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Lambertville Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band, Rowan University Brass Band
Clinicians: David Childs, James Gourlay
Location: Rowan University
Bands: A Little Wind Music (Canada), Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Lambertville Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band, Rowan University Brass Band
Clinicians: David Childs, James Gourlay
2017
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band, Rowan Prep Atlantic Youth Brass Band, Rowan University Brass Band
Clinicians: Craig Roberts, David Childs, Dr. Keith Wilkinson
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band, Rowan Prep Atlantic Youth Brass Band, Rowan University Brass Band
Clinicians: Craig Roberts, David Childs, Dr. Keith Wilkinson
2016
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Cory Band (featured artists), Penn View Brass Band, Princeton Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinicians: Philip Harper, and Cory Band Principal Players- Ailsa Russell (tenor horn), Christopher Thomas (trombone), Glyn Williams (euphonium), Helen Williams (flugelhorn), James Andrews (percussion), Simon Howell (bass), Steve Stewart (Eb soprano cornet) and Tom Hutchinson (cornet)
Solo Competition Winners:
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Cory Band (featured artists), Penn View Brass Band, Princeton Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinicians: Philip Harper, and Cory Band Principal Players- Ailsa Russell (tenor horn), Christopher Thomas (trombone), Glyn Williams (euphonium), Helen Williams (flugelhorn), James Andrews (percussion), Simon Howell (bass), Steve Stewart (Eb soprano cornet) and Tom Hutchinson (cornet)
Solo Competition Winners:
2015
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, New York Staff Band (featured artists), Penn View Brass Band, Princeton Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinicians: Craig Roberts, Dorothy Gates, Gordon Ward, Ronald Waiksnoris
Solo Competition Winners:
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, New York Staff Band (featured artists), Penn View Brass Band, Princeton Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinicians: Craig Roberts, Dorothy Gates, Gordon Ward, Ronald Waiksnoris
Solo Competition Winners:
2014
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Band of the Potomac, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinician: Brett Baker, Nigel Horne, Stephen Bulla
Solo Competition Winners: Matt Hartman, Joe Broom, John Nuzzo, Caty Simons, Kwanza Williams
Location: Rowan University
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Band of the Potomac, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinician: Brett Baker, Nigel Horne, Stephen Bulla
Solo Competition Winners: Matt Hartman, Joe Broom, John Nuzzo, Caty Simons, Kwanza Williams
2013
Location: University of Delaware
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinicians: James Gourlay and Tim de Maeseneer
Solo Competition Winners: Joe Broom
Location: University of Delaware
Bands: Atlantic Brass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinicians: James Gourlay and Tim de Maeseneer
Solo Competition Winners: Joe Broom
2012
Location: University of Delaware
Bands: Atlantic ds: ABrass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinicians: Blair Bollinger (Trombone, Philadelphia Orchestra), Carol Jantsch (Tuba, Philadelphia Orchestra)
Location: University of Delaware
Bands: Atlantic ds: ABrass Band, Chesapeake Silver Cornet Brass Band, Penn View Brass Band, Rockville Brass Band
Clinicians: Blair Bollinger (Trombone, Philadelphia Orchestra), Carol Jantsch (Tuba, Philadelphia Orchestra)