Free Holiday Concert Brings Music and Community to Vineland
Rowan College of South Jersey Cumberland will host a free Holiday Campus Concert on Wednesday, December 10 at 7 30 p.m. in the Guaracini Center, featuring the Cumberland Campus Jazz Band and Wind Symphony. The event offers seasonal music, inclusive participation, and a chance for local residents to connect with students and community musicians during the holiday season.
The Cumberland Campus Jazz Band and Wind Symphony will present the college's annual Holiday Campus Concert on Wednesday, December 10 at 7 30 p.m. in the Guaracini Center on the Cumberland campus in Vineland. The free performance will feature arrangements of Christmas Time Is Here, Feliz Navidad, and other seasonal selections as the ensembles complete their 42nd performance season under founding Director Joseph Akinskas.
As a free community event and part of the college's seasonal programming, the concert reduces financial barriers to arts participation and invites a broad cross section of residents to attend. Participation in the bands is open to students, faculty, and community members, creating opportunities for intergenerational collaboration, skill sharing, and local connections that extend beyond a single evening of music.
Public health and social well being are closely tied to accessible cultural programming. Shared musical experiences can ease social isolation, support mental health, and strengthen neighborhood ties, benefits that are especially meaningful during the winter months when community gatherings help counter seasonal loneliness. Offering the concert without a ticket price makes it more equitable for families and individuals who face economic constraints, expanding access to live performances that might otherwise be out of reach.
The ensembles' long running season reflects sustained investment in campus arts and in community engagement. For students, performing alongside faculty and local musicians provides practical training, mentorship, and a pathway to civic participation. For Vineland and surrounding areas, the concert contributes to the local cultural calendar and supports small scale economic activity as attendees visit nearby restaurants and shops.
Those interested in joining the ensembles or seeking more information may contact the director through the college. The concert provides a low barrier way for residents to experience live music, celebrate the season, and connect with the campus as a shared community resource.
