For Immediate Release: July 11, 2025
THIRD ANNUAL CENTRAL OHIO PROFESSIONAL BIG BAND SHOWCASE SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 2025
11:00AM – 10:00PM
$10.00 or more DONATIONS Toward
Newly formed 501.c3 VALLEY DALE BALLROOM JAZZ EDUCATION FOUNDATION Host Location: THE VALLEY DALE BALLROOM
1590 Sunbury Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43219
Contact: Landa Masdea Brunetto Cell 614-579-1150 landa@valleydaleballroom.com
The Valley Dale Ballroom (VDB) will host its third annual big band festival featuring eleven of Central Ohio’s top big bands on Saturday, August 2, 2025. The day-long festival will run from 11:00pm until 10:00pm, each band will play a 45-minute set. Proceeds from this festival will benefit non-profit 501.C3. The (VDB) Jazz Education Foundation promotes Big Band & Jazz Ensembles in our local high schools, by presenting a festival of high school musicians, being critiqued for professional enhancement, by Columbus local musicians. February 22, 2025, was VDB’s first annual day of high school bands. VDB is taking it further for the students to play in the music museum which reigned by performing compositions beginning over 90 years ago.
Festival Director Rick Brunetto states, “Now, going into our third year, this event has brought together, local professional big bands all performing back-to-back on the same stage”.
All of the musicians are donating their services in an effort to showcase historic big band music and provide opportunities for young musicians. Brunetto states … “we wanted to give back to the Columbus Community and celebrate this long-standing tradition of big band music, its writers, arrangers and its unique musical arrangements.
Tickets/donations available at the door are just $10.00 and free for all students. Guests will enjoy a variety of big band music, jazz, with dancing available all day.
Sponsorship support was initially provided by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra which in 2022 recognized Rick Brunetto as Community Music Educator of 2022, Brunetto received an award of a trophy and cash prize, which he used in 2023, for the first festival. Brunetto, has taught music at St. Charles Preparatory School, Denison University, Capital University and Columbus State and since 2014 has served as musical director for The Columbus Italian Festival. as well as directing his own 17-piece big band which he started in 1984.
The eleven performing bands include: Swing’s The Thing, The Schubach Big Band, Swing Machine, Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Arch City Big Band, Z-Sharp Big Band, Little Big Band, Emerald City Swing Orchestra, Westerville Jazz Orchestra, Groove City Big Band and musical hosts The Rick Brunetto Big Band, house band at The Valley Dale Ballroom.
Built in 1919 as Columbus’ very first music arena, The Valley Dale Ballroom is rich in big band history. Boasting of performances of the greatest bands of all time, including Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra, Harry James, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Artie Shaw with Billie Holiday and the list continues. The bands started at Valley Dale in the early 1920s and have continued each decade with a house band dedicated to preserving the iconic big band sound. . For more information visit www.valleydaleballroom.com.
Adult Beverages, Sandwiches and Snacks, will be available throughout the performances. Seats have first come first serve at the ballroom.