80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France | June 6, 2024

Myrtle Beach, SC. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. The Festive Brass is pleased to announce that it has accepted an invitation to perform in the Music Celebrations International Concert Series for the upcoming 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Liberation of France in Normandy, France on June 6, 2024. The group will be traveling together from June 4-12, 2024, and performing 3 times to honor the thousands who paid the ultimate price on Omaha Beach and the surrounding areas. The Festive Brass is proud to be a representative of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and the United States, joining many other ensembles from around the world performing to honor the fallen and do our part to ensure their legacy is remembered. 

In response to the invitation from the honorable Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, and the honorable Joël Bruneau, Mayor of Caen, Jason Coker, President of the Festive Brass said, “Having the opportunity to be present in Normandy to pay tribute to the more than 29,000 fallen Americans and perform for their families aligns with our mission to honor their legacy and serve our veterans through music. This invitation is a great honor for us, and we look forward to being a part of this historic event.”

The Festive Brass will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery. The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France is located in Colleville-sur-Mer, on the site of the temporary American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S. First Army on June 8, 1944, as the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II. The cemetery sits on a bluff overlooking the bitterly contested Omaha Beach.

All contributions to the Festive Brass in 2023 and 2024 will support the Normandy 2024 project and help make it possible for the organization's volunteer musicians to participate. Contributions are greatly appreciated and can be made at festivebrass.org.

Upcoming Local Performances: (Media Opportunities)

Monday, May 29, 2023 | 10:30a – 12:00p | Memorial Day Ceremony for the City of Myrtle Beach (The Festive Brass performs pre-ceremony music prior to the ceremony start at 11a.)
Myrtle Beach Convention Center
2101 North Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 | 843-918-1225

Tuesday, May 30, 2023 | 7:00p | Memorial Day concert featuring the Festive Brass in partnership with the Military Appreciation Committee (The concert is free and open to the public.)

Myrtle Beach Convention Center
2101 North Oak Street, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577 | 843-918-1225

About Festive Brass

The Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach, under the direction of Charles A. Dumas, is in its 25th season as an all-brass ensemble providing patriotic music and old standards for special concerts along the Grand Strand. The 30+ members of the band are all local volunteers committing their time and talent. The mission of the group is to, “bring the community together as a British-style brass band with volunteer musicians to support the City of Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand at all ceremonial events that celebrate our veterans past and present. We are rooted in our nation’s musical history by playing traditional marches, patriotic music, military service songs, classical works, big band, and more.” In December of 2021, the Festive Brass traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii to perform for the 80th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. 

Contacts:   

Jason Coker, President, Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach (843-742-3230)

Jennifer Egan, Immediate Past-President, Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach (815-975-1801)