The North Shore Concert Band Salem Willows Summer Concert Series begins on Tuesday
July 11, at 7:00pm, at the Robert Hayes Concert Shell at Salem Willows, Salem MA. Band
Director David Benjamin hosts a series of guest conductors bringing their own exciting
programs played by the professional ensemble.
The series of six free outdoor concerts begins on July 11, at 7:00pm with “American Salute”,
a patriotic program conducted by Benjamin. The next program on July 18, 7:00pm features
conductor Peter Cokkinias with “Out of This World”, musical selections about outer space.
On July 25, 7:00pm conductor Eileen Yarrison presents “New England Composers”
featuring the music of Edward Madden, Leroy Anderson and more. Conductor Robert
Chadwick leads the band on August 1, 7:00pm with “Music of the Home Front”, a concert
of music that we have rallied around in times of war. Peter Cokkinias returns to conduct
“Pride of America: All-American Composers” on August 8, 7:00pm featuring vocalist Ana
Guigui. The final concert marks the return of David Benjamin conducting “Band Favorites”
on August 15, 7:00pm.
The featured guest conductors are all members of the band, and each has extensive
conducting experience. Peter Cokkinias is a former staff member at Tufts University, the
Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music. He is also the Music
Director/Conductor of the Metrowest Symphony Orchestra and is Manager/performer in
the Boston Saxophone Quartet.
Bob Chadwick is a retired Music educator who is very active playing saxophone with local
Big Bands, pit orchestras for musicals, and plays baritone saxophone with the Boston
Saxophone Quartet. When he’s not playing music during the summer, you’ll probably find
him somewhere out on Salem Sound or beyond sailing his Cape Dory 30.
Dr. Eileen Yarrison was the first flutist to receive a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the
University of Nebraska. She also holds an MM from Pennsylvania State University, and a
BM from the University of New Hampshire. Eileen is principal flute of The Orchestra on
The Hill (Ipswich, MA). Dr. Yarrison is on the faculty of Salem State University, Gordon
College, and the Groton Hill Music Center. She maintains a private music studio in Beverly,
MA.
David Benjamin is the Music Director of the North Shore Concert Band and The Cape Ann
Community Band. He is a concert promoter on the North Shore, a retired music educator
and a retired orchestra manager. He is also an active musician playing with many North
Shore groups.
Dr. Ana Guigui, our featured soloist in the Pride of America concert, has a thirty-five-year
career as an interdisciplinary, professional artist, including Broadway national tours and
Off-Broadway credits as a performer, a world touring keyboardist and vocalist for
Christopher Cross and other Grammy award winning artists.
The North Shore Concert Band is comprised of professional musicians from the greater
North Shore area. Salem musicians have performed annually at Salem Willows since the park
opened in 1858. The North Shore Concert Band was formed in the 1930’s and has played at
Salem Willows ever since. The free concerts are sponsored in part by The Musicians
Performance Trust Fund, The City of Salem Trust Fund, The Salem Willows Merchants,
area businesses and individual sponsors.
All concerts begin at 7:00pm. Parking is free, restrooms are handicap accessible and the
audience is encouraged to bring a chair and a picnic lunch (carry in – carry out). Rain
dates are the following Thursday evening at 7:00pm. Location: Robert Hayes Concert
Shell at Salem Willows, Salem MA.
For concert information please contact Gordon Bowman, Band Manager Tel:978-531-
9339 email: gbbjcb@verizon.net
For notification of band concert postponements please register at:
http://notify.northshoreconcertband.com
North Shore Concert Band 2023 Salem Willows Schedule
July 11, 7:00pm American Salute
July 18, 7:00pm Out of This World
July 25, 7:00pm New England Composers
August 1, 7:00pm Music of the Home Front
August 8, 7:00pm Pride of America: All-American Composers
August 15, 7:00pm Band Favorites
All rain dates are the following Thursday evening, 7:00pm
