FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2022
Cville Band Celebrates 100th Anniversary with Centennial Concert
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - This special evening will feature guest performers the U.S. Army Brass Quintet with vocalist Bob McDonald, Ray Caddell of Big Ray and the Kool Kats, and guest conductor Paul Murtha. Proclamation presentations will be made by Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate Sally Hudson to mark this historic date in Charlottesville’s history. DuCard Vineyards will be pouring The Spirit of ’22, Cville Band’s limited edition Centennial wine.
Steve Layman, the Band’s Music Director since 2008, says, “The Band is excited to perform alongside great national talents at one of Charlottesville’ s largest venues. Having Paul Murtha guest conduct ‘Cville Centennial,’ which he wrote especially for us, is the frosting on the cake.”
Formerly known as The Municipal Band of Charlottesville, Cville Band is one of the oldest continuously operating amateur community bands in the United States. The original Band members received their instruments on October 23, 1922, and made their first public appearance on April 10, 1923, in a parade up and down Main Street followed by a concert on the corner of Main and 2nd Streets. Through the years, Cville Band has become a beloved institution and earned a trustworthy pledge from the community that its future will be safeguarded throughout the years to come.
In 1963, Cville Band performed at the first annual Naturalization Ceremony at Monticello and has performed at every ceremony since. In 1976, the Band performed for Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Charlottesville to commemorate the United States Bicentennial.
And best of all, Cville Band has provided countless hours of listening enjoyment at hundreds of free concerts and civic events for 100 years. As L.D. Case, one of the Band’s first supporters, said in 1922, “[the Band] will continue as long as Charlottesville and dear old Albemarle endure.”
Cville Band’s team of volunteers and music directors are your neighbors and colleagues who share their skills and experience in a wide range of styles, from classical and marches, jazz and Broadway tunes, to movie scores and rap from Hamilton. Ensembles add more variety to enjoy with in-person performances in schools, community centers, wineries, breweries and other small settings.
In addition to the slate of free concerts performed this Centennial year, the Band is giving back in other ways. They are proud to announce the Centennial Music Scholarship, a new program for young musicians in Charlottesville City and Albemarle County public schools. Seventh and eighth graders who play band instruments can apply to receive a music lesson each week throughout the 2022-2023 school year at no cost to them. At year’s end, scholarship recipients will perform a piece with the Band during a live concert. Music and community are Cville Band’s passions and this scholarship will be an incredible legacy for their Centennial year.
Cville Band finds common ground through the power of music and invites the Charlottesville and Central Virginia community to celebrate with them on this historic occasion.
Interview opportunities with Steve Layman, Music Director, are available. Please contact Blue Ridge Group for more information.
Media Contact
Susan Payne
Blue Ridge Group
434-760-1732
susan@brgva.com