Danville native Michaelle Perros got to meet a lot of unique visitors at the Brass Band Festival in June. (Larry Vaught Photo)
The Great American Brass Band Festival started in 1990 in Danville and the 33rd annual event will be June 1-4 in downtown Danville.
I still remember when Mary Schurz, publisher at The Advocate-Messenger where I worked, announced the festival was starting and the newspaper would be a major sponsor. She didn’t say we had to volunteer to help, but I knew that would make her happy so I did. That was 1990 and in 2023 I still hope to be helping because this is such a wonderful event for our community.
Danville native Michaelle Perros is the new executive director of the Brass Band Festival. She spent time at the recent festival shadowing outgoing director Missy Angolia to get ready for her new role.
Knowing how many out of town visitors we have for the festival each year, I wanted to give Brass Band Festival fans a chance to get to know our new director who even sang on stage with one of the bands during the recent festival.
Question: What made you decide that being festival director was the right job for you?
Perros: “Music is what I love the most. This festival is another way (on top of teaching and performing) I can share that with people and being in my hometown is the cherry on top.”
Question: Growing up in Danville, what were your impressions of the Brass Band Festival then?
Perros: “I always knew the festival was a big deal as there were so many people in attendance and it was always going to be fun. It was such an exciting time when the banners came up around town. I enjoyed the full day of music and running around the lawn in the sun with friends.”
Question: Tell readers a little about yourself and your musical background?
Perros: “I am a Danville Band alumnus and I started working with the band immediately after graduation. Eventually I was promoted to Assistant Band Director and during that time, I pursued my music education degree through the University of Kentucky, studying with Miles and Lisa Osland in the saxophone studio. Once I completed that degree, I began to gig as much as possible around Kentucky and the surrounding area. I’ve played in small and large groups, from concert bands to jazz bands to cover bands and many genres in between. I will continue to teach and perform as much as possible, always filling my need for music.”
Question: After shadowing Missy Angolia at this year’s festival, were there any big surprises for you?
Perros: “I really enjoyed shadowing Missy. She is very knowledgeable and a lot of fun to be around. Generally speaking, there weren’t any major surprises. It was all very familiar to me. What was new to me was seeing the behind-the-scenes work and the amount of hours the volunteers put into working the festival and ensuring its success, both short and long-term.”
Question: What did you like best about this year’s festival?
Perros: “First, the weather was wonderful. I know I have no control of the weather, but fingers crossed for the same beautiful weather in 2023. I enjoyed the groups that came. I think everything ran very smoothly and I got to meet a lot of people that I will be working with directly and lots of other festival goers enjoying the weekend.”
Question: Do you already have some ideas about tweaks or changes you might want to suggest for the festival?
Perros: “The festival is something I’ve known for a long time, and just like anything else there’s always room for updating and creating excitement while enjoying more familiar aspects of the festival. I’m going to enjoy incorporating my perspective into its facets. Stay tuned!”
Question: Since sponsors are a must for a “free festival,” what will be your main selling point to existing sponsors as well as potential new sponsors?
Perros: “It’s no secret that the GABBF is an entity in our town and as cliché as it is, it takes a village. Our village puts on our festival, not just the director, the board, and the volunteers. We need help from all reaches of the community. It is, indeed, free, and that means every dollar contributed counts. Sponsors should know that their dollar will go directly to the festival and not anywhere else. Their support has a direct relationship to the festival’s success.”
Question: Finally, just how important do you believe the festival is to our community?
Perros: “Danville is a unique community that has a little bit of everything for everybody. This festival is a time when we all come together to make it happen, so we all have a part in it. It’s a celebration that we all host. People travel from all over to attend and enjoy the music and while they’re here, they get to enjoy a beautiful, clean, friendly, little big town.”
