R.B. Hall Day Saturday June 29th in Ellsworth

If you are a fan of community bands, then Saturday, June 29th is your day and the place to be is at the Ellsworth Elementary-Middle School as it is R.B. Hall Day! The event will take place on the ballfield. In the event of inclement weather in will be inside the school

Robert Browne Hall (R.B. Hall) was born in Bowdoinham on June 30, 1858. He was a cornetist, leader of many community bands and a composer of marches. He was a contemporary of John Phillip Sousa and was conductor of many bands including the Richmond Cornet Band, Bangor Band, Waterville Military Band, Chandler’s Band and the Tenth Regimental Band of Albany, New York.

During his lifetime he published over 60 marches. Many more of his compositions were published after his death. To honor his accomplishments, in May, 1981, Governor Brennan proclaimed that the last Saturday in June would be recognized as R B Hall Day. Since then there has been a RB Hall Day Celebration of community bands somewhere in the state.

There are around 40 community bands throughout the state of Maine. This year 14 of them will be attending RB Hall Day in Ellsworth. Bands attending include

Bangor Band
Lincolnville Band
Brooklin Band
New Horizons Band of Portland
Southern Maine All Star Band
Hallowell Community Band
HJ Crosby Community Band of Dexter
Bay Winds North Ensemble
Sebasticook Community Band
Westbrook City Band
Cherryfield Band
Maine Pops Concert Band
Bar Harbor Band
Ellsworth Concert Band.

The 15^th band is a “Massed Band”. This is an annual tradition where any musician can join in as a number of RB Hall compositions will be played.

RB Hall Day was celebrated in Waterville in 2018, Freeport in 2017, Bangor in 2016, Gorham in 2015, Hiram in 2014, Augusta in 2013. and Houlton in 2011.

This is an all-day event with the first band starting at 8:30 AM and the last, Ellsworth, starting at 6 PM.

There is no cost to attend but donations will be gladly accepted.

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No cost. Donations gladly accepted.