Winston-Salem to host Unity Brass Festival in July

Any and every way we praise God is good, but some of us prefer to buzz our lips into an amplifying instrument made from brass!

A massive amount of buzzing and praising will take place in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, July 19 – 22, 2018, where Moravians in North America will host the third international brass festival of the Worldwide Moravian Unity.

Unity Brass Festival (UBF) is a long weekend of music and fellowship that connects brass instrument players through musical collaboration, builds friendships and community, and celebrates oneness in Christ.

The Third Moravian Unity Brass Festival convenes brass musicians to play and learn in Christian fellowship and share brass music with others for the glory of God. The Festival also builds for the future by teaching, leading, and encouraging brass musicians, arrangers, and composers.

One of the greatest benefits of registering for the Festival is the opportunity to join an enormous brass ensemble made up of Moravians from around the world, including Denmark, Germany, Labrador, the Netherlands, South Africa and Switzerland!

The Unity Brass Festival is a unique opportunity to celebrate our musical heritage, and symphonize and harmonize with our sisters and brothers from the Moravian brass band traditions of other countries…an experience you will never forget!

The week culminates with a free concert/service by the massed brass choir; all are welcome to join us on Sunday, July 22, 2018, at 4 p.m. in Wait Chapel, Wake Forest University. Audiences will experience a wide range of repertoire, from sacred chorales to works for double brass choir with organ.

In 2007, Moravian musicians in South Africa, Germany and North America organized the first Festival specifically for brass instrumentalists. It is an open festival on the model of the German Bläsertag (Brass Day), wherein all ages learn, rehearse and play together during the event, forming an enormous massed brass ensemble.

Church membership is not required, and all are invited (Moravian and non-Moravian) to come and be a part of this exciting week of musical growth, spiritual nourishment and joy-filled fellowship in Winston-Salem.

Unity Brass Festival is a ministry focused on participation rather than performance. Replete with opportunities to learn and play music, the festival is open to brass instrumentalists of all levels of playing ability. To be more specific, if you started playing this year, come join us; if you have never played an instrument, we would encourage you to get some basic instruction prior to Festival week and be familiar with your instrument.

Most of the music is original compositions and arrangements by living Moravians. Music will be available to registrants ahead of time in PDF format. Printed music will be provided for all massed brass choir participants. Participants are requested to bring their green and blue Moravian chorale books.

Registering for the UBF

Advance registration is required. Online registration (and, a wealth of information) is available at unitybrass.moravianmusicfestival.org  Festival registration packets are available by mail or printed from the website.

Housing will consist of Wake Forest campus options and blocks of rooms at area hotels. On-campus housing includes a full meal plan; other attendees may purchase individual meals on campus. There is an extra fee for registrations after June 1.

The local Festival Planning Committee is a dedicated team of tireless volunteers who have been working for over a year already, ably led by Donna Rothrock and Mary Elen Kollman.
Hosts and helpers needed

Please sign up to host a musician, sponsor the festival, or volunteer for the festival at www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4161122/UnityBrass. Churches, organizations or individuals may adopt an international band musician, housing them and providing transportation. Additional funds for scholarships or to help with tour expenses of our international travelers, while in the U.S., are appreciated. Many are making plans to visit New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Sponsorships or support in any amount is appreciated and may be made by visiting moravianmusic.org/support/

Bring your brass instruments (and ram’s horns) and join us!

Erik Salzwedel is business manager for the Moravian Music Foundation. For more information on the UBF, visit 
unitybrass.moravianmusicfestival.org