Concert Series Comes to an End

Last Wednesday night, August 11, Quintessential Brass set up on the Winchester Commons as the final part of the Winchester Commons Summer Concert Series.

The five person band held a show for a crowd of some 60-70 people enjoying a nice and breezy night for a concert as the quintet played old brass band standards, marches and jazz and swing ensembles with children and parents, socializing and enjoying the eclectic styles of the group.

"We're all professional musicians who gig and teach," bass trombone player Leslie Havens said.

"We really love all the children dancing," said French horn player Robin Milinazzo. "The one tough thing is competing with the train," Milinazzo said.

The interruptions from the commuter rail aside, the rest of the cleverly titled Quintessential Brass is composed of Christine Fawson on trumpet, Alan Johnson on trombone, and Mike Peipman on trumpet. The accomplished musicians of Quintessential Brass have been playing together for 20 years, and were welcomed back to the Winchester Commons with claps and cheers.

One woman who was all set up for the concert under one of the 100-year-old oaks, Eileen Rustin, enjoys the summer concert series.

"I've been to a lot of concerts here; it's the perfect place for a show, kind of Norman Rockwell" Rustin said.

"It's tradition for us," said Linda Carcaccio with about a dozen of her family members. "We've been coming down here for three generations now."

The Commons Concerts Series ended last week with Quintessential Brass playing the final show of the season. However, because of the success over the years of the concerts, it is expected that the shows will return again next year.