John Walter Cape Community Band Returns to Middle PAC, Dec. 7

COURT HOUSE – Led by new director John Curtis, who has wide experience and education in music, the 35-member John Walter Cape Community Band will return to the Performing Arts Center of Middle Township Dec. 7, at 7 p.m. for a free concert of diverse holiday music.
Curtis, whose roots go back to Boston where he was a pianist, organist, accompanist and choir conductor, joined the 18-year-old community band last summer, succeeding Richard Ludwig, former director of the prize winning Middle Township High School Marching Band. Joining Curtis in the concert will be his wife, Judy Ann, a lyric soprano who will sing Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” and Eartha Kitt’s “Santa Baby.”
The program will feature a variety of selections ranging from classic carols to jazz arrangements to music for Chanukah and the New Year. Even the audience will get into the act with a big sing-along.
John Walter had been a music director in the WhiteHall school district in Pennsylvania before he came to South Jersey and started the volunteer band of professional musicians in 1996. He died two years later, but the tradition has carried on in his name ever since.
Curtis and his wife are well known in music circles in this area. They perform at local churches and are owners of Musikhaus Studio in Court House where they teach private piano and voice lessons.