Port Townsend Summer Band

08/27/2026

08/27/2026

Sunday August 30th 1:00 pm at Pope Marine park, Port Townsend - Our season finale will include the Port Townsend premier of "Selkie of the Salish Sea" by Port Townsend Composer, Daniel Barry.

Commissioned by the Port Townsend Summer Band Dr. Barry wrote this piece with the images in mind of the Celtic and Norse mythological Selkie people who are said to shed their seal skin as they exit the water and take on human forms on land. Unlike Mermaids, Selkies can be any gender.

Join us in celebrating our local composers with pieces on the program by Dr. Barry and our Conductor Emeritus, Karl Bach.

See our website for information on the program, parking and free transit options with Jefferson County Transit.
www.ptsummerband.org

Want to know more about Selkies? Read below:

Selkies are mythological creatures that can shape-shift between seal and human forms by removing or putting on their seal skin. They feature prominently in the oral traditions and mythology of various cultures, especially those of Celtic and Norse origin. The term "selkie" derives from the Scots word for "seal", and is also spelled as silkies, sylkies, or selchies. Selkies are sometimes referred to as selkie folk (Scots: selkie fowk), meaning "seal folk".[a] Selkies are mainly associated with the Northern Isles of Scotland, where they are said to live as seals in the sea but shed their skin to become human on land.

Selkies have a dual nature: they can be friendly and helpful to humans, but they can also be dangerous and vengeful. Selkies are often depicted as attractive and seductive in human form, and many stories involve selkies having romantic or sexual relationships with humans, sometimes resulting in children. Selkies can also be coerced or tricked into marrying humans, usually by someone who steals and hides their seal skin, preventing them from returning to the sea. Such marriages are often unhappy, as the selkie always longs for the sea and may eventually escape if they find their skin.

Selkies have counterparts in other cultures. They are sometimes confused with other seal-like creatures, such as the mermaids or the finfolk. Selkies have inspired many works of art, literature, music, and film.

08/24/2026

Don't miss our last outdoor concert of the summer!

Sunday August 30th at 1:00 p0m at Pope Marine park, downtown Port Townsend.

In addition to fabulous music we will be awarding the second E.J. Gaede memorial student grant of the season to Chimacum High school's Mikhail Groth! Mikhail plays tenor saxophone with us and was Drum Major of the Chimacum band. We are so graetful to Linda Gaede for her generous annual donations that make this program possible.

For more information on the Port Townsend Summer Band go to our website at ptsummerband.org

08/19/2026

Music touches all living things. 🥰

08/16/2026

🎶 It's happening this weekend! 🌳🎺

Join us this Sunday at beautiful Carrie Blake Park for the next Concert at the James featuring "Harmonic Gatherings", an afternoon showcasing the incredible talent of our chamber ensembles!

Enjoy live performances by:
🎷 The Saxologists
🎺 Olympic Brass Quintet
🎼 Olympic Winds
🎶 Trumpet Trio

From powerful brass fanfares to rich woodwind harmonies, each ensemble brings its own unique style and sound for an afternoon of music that's perfect for the whole family.
Bring your lawn chair or blanket, invite your friends and neighbors, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of FREE live music in one of Sequim's favorite parks. Whether you're a longtime supporter or joining us for the first time, we'd love to see you there!

📅 This Sunday, August 16
📍 Carrie Blake Park | Sequim, WA

Come celebrate the joy of live music with us, we'll see you at the James! 🎶💙

08/15/2026

Who are the ensembles playing at Harmonic Gatherings concert?
This special concert features four outstanding ensembles, each bringing its own unique style and sound:

🎺 The 𝗢𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘁 will perform “Amparito Roca,” Jaime Texidor’s celebrated Spanish march, known for its bright melodies, spirited rhythms and colorful Mediterranean character.
🎼 𝗢𝗹𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀, the band’s clarinet choir, will spotlight the music of Sequim composer Signe Crawford with selections from her original works. “Buckaroo” is an entertaining western medley featuring “Big Iron,” “The Streets of Laredo,” “Bonanza,” and “Rawhide.”
🎷 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘅𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀, the band’s saxophone quartet, will demonstrate the remarkable versatility of the saxophone family with two contrasting selections. The quartet will perform “Fly Me to the Moon,” one of America’s most beloved standards. The group also presents Hiroki Takahashi’s “Amusement Park Suite for Saxophone Quartet,” a five-movement musical journey capturing the excitement of a day at the fair.
🎺 The 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗼 adds two audience favorites to the program, both arranged by former teachers of one of the trio’s trumpeters. The ensemble will perform Beethoven’s Trio, Op. 87 – IV. Finale, arranged for trumpets by former Los Angeles Philharmonic musician Rob Roy McGregor, followed by a Harry Potter medley based on John Williams ’iconic film score.

Whether you're a longtime supporter of the Sequim City Band or discovering us for the first time, Harmonic Gatherings offers something for everyone. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, relax in the park, and enjoy an afternoon of outstanding live music performed by your friends and neighbors.

We can't wait to share these incredible ensembles with our community. See you at the James!

08/09/2026

Happy Birthday to our Conductor Emeritus, Karl Bach, 93 never looked so good!

Come hear us play The Port Townsend March written by Mr. Bach for the PT Summer Band during his tenure as the band's director. We will perform the march at the Jefferson County Fair & Fairgrounds on Friday August 14th during our concert starting at 3:00 pm. Fair admission required, but then you get to enjoy the whole fair!

Happy Birthday to ACB Composer Member Karl Bach!