Bring on the Bands!

The live sounds of the big bands return to Birch Creek Music Performance Center with four weeks of concerts in July and August. From July 23 to August 16, audiences can hear the sounds of Birch Creek’s top flight academy big band inside the historic Dutton Concert Barn on the school’s campus.

Since Birch Creek’s early years in the 1970s, the faculty big band has been known as the Birch Creek Academy Big Band. Under the lead of program director, band leader and bassist Jeff Campbell, the world-class professionals who perform in the Academy Big Band have a unique summer gig: they perform at night on Birch Creek’s stage in concerts for the public and during the day, they teach talented young musicians from across the country who are attending one of Birch Creek’s two summer jazz sessions.

Before the Academy Big Band takes the stage in the Dutton Concert Barn, two student big bands will perform for the public as well. More than fifty students for each session comprise these bands, known at Birch Creek as the Lab Band and the Studio Band.

Birch Creek’s ongoing “Starz” concert series adds yet another name to the Birch Creek jazz family: the Birch Creek Stompers, a faculty Dixieland ensemble performing on July 27. On August 10, a faculty ensemble will perform the music of Nat King Cole.

General admission tickets for the Birch Creek Big Band Jazz series are $27 for adults, $10 for young adults ages 12 – 20 and college students, and $6 for children 11 and under. Tickets are available by calling 920.868.3763 or visiting the Birch Creek campus, located 3 miles east of Egg Harbor on County E. Regular office hours are 9 am – 6 pm weekdays with extended hours on concert nights.

The box office outside the concert barn opens at 7 pm on concert nights, with pre-concert music in the campus gazebo at 7:30 pm. All concerts begin at 8 pm. A picnic grove with tables is available. For more information call 920.868.3763 or visit http://www.birchcreek.org.