Community Activities And Benefits

Winter: Since 1998, the Atlantic Pops Community Band has performed a Toy Drive Concert at the Egg Harbor Township High School, Middle School, or The Cygnus Creative Arts Centre http://cygnus.shoreconnection.com/about-us/sponsors-contributors/ . Instead of an admission charge, new wrapped toys and clothing are accepted for donation to needy area families by the Atlantic City Rescue Mission.

Spring: At our annual Side–by-Side Scholarship Concert, each director or educator in the group is asked to select students from his/her respective Ensembles to perform with the Atlantic Pops Community Band. This is also the concert where Guest Conductors appear. Last Spring, this concert was conducted by Dr. William Silvester, Director of Bands at The College of New Jersey. In 2007 three scholarships, totaling $750.00, were awarded. Two recipients were long-standing members who are undergraduate students at Stockton State College; one was awarded to a student from Ocean City High School who is now attending Atlantic Cape Community College. Over 120 students and Atlantic Pops members, ages 13-72, performed at the Bill and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center Performing Arts Center at Ocean City High School.

Our Children’s Concert is a free concert, dedicated to grandparents and children, as an intergenerational program providing a musically entertaining and educational event. This concert is held every other year and is sponsored by Brigantine Recreation Department. The most recent endeavor was “Peter and the Wolf” with narration by BJ Capelli from radio station 102.7 FM.

Summer: The NJMEA Community Band Festival is sponsored by the New Jersey Music Educators Association. This concert combines the efforts and programs of five community bands from South Jersey to promote the organizations as well as the meaning, purpose, and benefits of community music programs. This event is held annually at the Cumberland County College Performing Arts Center.