HistoryThe Salem County Brass Society is a non-profit musical organization dedicated to bringing the music of a quality brass ensemble
to the residents of Salem County in Southern New Jersey. The Salem County Brass Society, located out of Carneys Point, NJ got its start in the spring of 1970 when a trio of high school students performed at an Easter sunrise service at the Union Presbyterian Church in Carneys Point. Encouraged by Rev. William Shaub, the assistant pastor at that time, and coordinated by Charles H. Musser, the ensemble maintained approximately five to six performers who were also church members. By mid-1973, the ensemble gained popularity and interest, and so it increased in size and played regularly. As the musicianship improved, the group began to entice more people to join and eventually reached beyond the Union Presbyterian Church to include members from several churches and communities in Salem County. In 1974, O. Stephen White, a trombonist with the group, assumed the duties of director. The ensemble adopted the name Salem County Brass Society in 1975 and became a financially independent organization. The group incorporated in July 1979. In April 1982, O. Stephen White resigned, and the duties of director were assumed by Ronald D. Miller who would later be followed by Charles Musser in January 1988, with James R. Howe as associate conductor. In 1998, James R. Howe retired from the Salem County Brass Society, and in 2001, Dr. Michael Culbert became its associate conductor. Charles Musser retired from the ensemble in 2006 and Phil Blackman was selected to be director. The brass ensemble currently rehearses on Monday evenings at the Union Presbyterian Church in Carneys Point and membership is by invitation only. The ensemble’s holiday and spring scholarship concerts are held at Davidow Hall on the campus of the Salem Community College in Carneys Point.
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Contact information at salemcountybrasssociety@comcast.net
