Mattapoisett has a new Town Band director, Jayson E. Newell, a music teacher for 17 years. Newell has worked in Wareham, Barnstable and Fall River school districts, has been a member of seven bands and groups performing traditional band pieces as well as with a jazz ensemble.
Newell said there are 44 Town Band members, including students from the eighth grade to professionals with many years of experience. He said the band also includes many music teachers from those who teach chorus to those who teach bands.
In preparing to take over the duties of band director from James Farmer who retired after 30 years, Newell said it has been difficult to pin down exactly how long Mattapoisett has had a Town Band. He said that the band’s music library gives a clue. Old sheet music published in 1926 by a company that went out of business in 1928 could mean the band has been around in some form since 1927.
If anyone has information on the band’s history, Newell invites them to contact him through the Facebook page Mattapoisett Town Band. Each week the band will publish upcoming music selections, and if you have a favorite post the title on Facebook and also check the page for weather-related performance cancellations.