On Thursday nights in July and August, Spirit of America will perform a series of free concerts at Eldredge Park in its hometown of Orleans, Massachusetts. Bring family and friends, share a picnic, and come enjoy beautiful music on a summer evening. For dates, click here.

Spirit of America Wind Ensemble is preparing to record a new CD of beautiful hymn arrangements, to be released in November. Stay tuned for more info!

Spirit of America’s Winter Percussion returned from their first competition of the season in Blackstone, MA on Sunday, February 28th with a score of 80.75! SOA WP performs “Ameriscapes” this weekend in Trumbull, CT at WGI Regionals. For schedule of upcoming shows click here.


Spirit of America Band is looking for a tenor sax player to join us for this year’s show. We would love to have you at our March camp — please contact us if you are interested!

Name: Cori Shannon
Age: 25
Years of Service: 9
Current section/instrument: Color Guard
SOA involvement: Color Guard, 9 years; Winter Percussion, 3 years as a performer, 3 years as a coach
Favorite Aspect of SOA: Working with kids in clinics
Greatest band challenge: Taking on the main role of “Annie” with only 2 days notice for last summer’s production of “Exploration”
Best band moment: Practicing for the World Championships in Korea: when we played the Korean folk song as part of the show, the locals recognized it and stopped to watch and listen. I loved the connection between cultures!

July 24, 2010 – Spirit of America has been invited to perform at Mashpee Commons! Check back for details.

Rimshot out of a cannon: Spirit of America’s Winter Percussion ensemble is well on their way to a fabulous show for 2010! The 25 members are exploring works by Aaron Copland, in a musical and visual depiction of rivers, plains and mountains. These young musicians are up to lots of new tricks: besides perfecting their new music and drill, they’re now playing hand bells, and they’re working on a three-way battery, pit and dance swap mid-number! Stay tuned for updates from WP. For their camp and show schedule, click here.

The Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago was great! Thanks to all of you stopped by our booth. It was so nice to meet you! We hope that you will take a minute to visit our Auditions page and fill out an application. We would love to have you join us for the 2010-2011 seasons!

WP received the second half of their show music today! The kids are hot on the practice rooms, eager to get this second half of the show under their belts before camp on December 12. Go WP!

The writing team met to narrow down the story line for Exploration 2010, and this year, we’re going to Appalachia! Our story follows a photographer named Annie, who launches out from her small hometown in the Midwest, to find her way in New York City. When success and fame begin to outweigh her integrity, she is redirected by her Nana to go back to her roots and find her stardust.

Spirit of America is scheduling its 2010 summer tour for June 26-July 11. Check back for details!

In September of 2011, Spirit of America travels to South Africa! SOA will travel to Durban, where the band will give workshops, and help launch a field band program for the South African young people. In Johannesburg, SOA will give performances of Instrumental Theater: in motion in theaters, and will lead workshops as part of the “Joburg Arts Alive International Festival.” In 2011, “Arts Alive” celebrates arts from other nations — a perfect opportunity for SOA. In between, SOA plans to help build Community Center, which will be used not only for music, but for health clinics, and other community gatherings. More details to follow.

WP had a great day with drill writer James Sparling! The kids learned the first half of the show today. They’ll keep polishing now until James returns in January to teach the rest of the show!

The first recording by Spirit of America, Call to Freedom: The Music of a Great Nation, received a fabulous review from Audiophile Audition. Reviewer Steven Ritter said the sound was: “bright yet warm when needed, and nicely attuned to the glories of a full-out wind band. All should be congratulated on a superior job, and I hope there will be more to come in the years that follow.” Buy your copy now!

The WP floor is here and it’s stunning! Take a look at this beautiful depiction of Rivers, Plains and Mountains.

At an exciting meeting tonight the Field Band received their new assignments for the 2010 season! Sneak Preview: the show will open with EVERYONE on brass for “Fanfare for the Common Man.” Features later on include everyone on woodwinds, and a closer for guard and percussion – including 40 bass drums! So brass players are picking up woodwinds and vice versa, percussionists are trying their hand at wind instruments, and the guard is expanding their skill set with instruments and drums as well as guard equipment. It’s going to be incredible!

Director Richard K. Pugsley met with Show Designer Colin McNutt and Music Arranger Michael Klesch in Franklin, MA today, to settle on an outline and musical themes for Exploration 2010. The band was psyched to learn that field show will feature the music of Aaron Copland!

WP has the first half of their show music in the bag – arrangements of Aaron Copland’s “Scherzo” from his Organ Symphony, and Appalachian Spring, arranged by Seagull 7 and Ian Hale. Coming soon: drill from James Sparling!

Design concepts for Winter Percussion’s 2010 show are underway – teams have been established for the design of the floor, costumes and set!

Spirit of America Wind Ensemble performed a series of free concerts at Eldredge Park in Orleans in July 2009. This collaboration with the Lower Cape Outreach Council helped raise spirits and funds for the needy on Cape Cod. Click here to see a schedule of next summer’s concerts!