The Stonewall Brigade Band is the nation's oldest continuous community band sponsored by local government and funded by tax monies. Initially formed as a brass band, we have grown and changed into a community concert band averaging 70-80 playing members (out of about 120 on roll) on each Summer concert.  Our age range is 13 through 84.  The band has had well over 900 members during its long history. Our members come from several Shenandoah Valley cities and counties, and other areas of the state.

The Summer Concert Season features a free concert every Monday night at 8 pm, June, July and August in The Stonewall Brigade Bandstand in beautiful Gypsy Hill Park, Staunton VA. Programs and directions can be found in the Concert Series link above. Click on the "band schedule" button above for our members' activity calendar.  Concert times are listed on the "Concert Series" page.

Summer Concerts follow a fairly consistent format, including a military march, an overture, a concert march, a sacred selection, a Broadway show medley, and several novelty, patriotic, and popular selections, ending with a Sousa march and the National Anthem.  Several concerts have thematic focus, such as Flag Day, Independence Day, Christmas in July, and the Kids Concert. 

The 2012 Summer Season begins on Monday June 4 at 8 pm and continues through the end of August with our annual "best of the season" concert on August 27.   This will be the 124th year in Gypsy Hill Park in the 158th year of the band's existence.  In addition to the park concerts, the band's ensembles have performance which can be found on our Band Schedule link above. 

Two special performances are scheduled for Summer.  On Monday July 2 the band will present a joint program with the 29th Army Band, Va. National Guard, in the Stonewall Brigade Bandstand in Gypsy Hill Park.  On Saturday June 30 we will perform at a Community Band Festival on the downtown mall in Charlottesville, along with a number of other community bands from Virginia and neighboring states.

The annual Christmas Concert was held on December 19 at St. Paul's United Methodist Church with 80 players in the band and over 500 in the audience.  This was a benefit concert for a local charity chosen annually. This year we raised over $1,200 for St. Paul's UMC Youth Mission Team trip to Guatemala in 2012.

Rehearsals resume on January 9 and continue each Monday at 8pm in the band room through May 28.  New members are welcome in all sections.  See the "join" page in the links above. Just email the director or any board member from our Board Members link for information.   

Click on "Guestbook" for our links page.

Spring rehearsals are held each Monday evening   from January 9 through May 29 at the band building.  Rehearsals are from 8 pm to 9:30 pm.  New members are welcome. Click here for information on joining.

During the Winter months, we will cancel rehearsal due to weather if classes at Blue Ridge Community College have been cancelled for the evening.  Check with local media outlets for further information on BRCC class cancellation.

Click here for a page on many ways to support the band.

Click here to hear the Stonewall Brigade Band's Civil War Centennial Concert from July 1961.  Includes comments by Dr. Marshall Brice, author of the band's history.  (Right click to download the file, click to play in your browser.)

Click here for the band director's blog.

It is updated from time to time.

Click here for the Voice of America video feature of June 2, 2008 concert

(To view on a Mac, download and installflip4mac.)

Click here for "Visit Staunton" web site

Organizations wishing to have the Stonewall Brigade Band furnish music for a civic or patriotic occasion can contact any board member, or write to the band at the bandroom:

600 Thornrose Ave.

Staunton, VA 24401

(540) 213-3880

Cancellation alerts and last-minute announcements

are available on this number.

The band room is located

at the entrance to Gypsy Hill Park.

From I-81 take exit 220 (VA 262)

and exit at VA 254, Parkersburg Pike. 

Take a right at the exit and

continue to the third stoplight

and turn left on Thornrose Avenue. 

The band room is about 1/2 mile ahead on the left

at the intersection of Thornrose Avenue

and Churchville Avenue .

Or take I-81 exit 225 and follow VA 262 southbound to the Churchville Avenue exit.  Turn left on US 250 East and follow it through 3 traffic lights, ignoring the detour signs.  Parking is available in front of the band building, on the field across the street, inside the park, or on the street.