The John Walter Band: Community Outreach and Holiday Splendor 

Among the many talented cover bands and solo artists in the South Jersey area, a musical arrangement of almost 60 people makes for a powerful performance in a small town. I mean, isn’t that a decent chunk of Cape May’s population? 

The John Walter Band is a Cape May County community concert band composed of 48 full-time and 11 part-time volunteer musicians (and counting) from all walks of life. This includes doctors, lawyers, retirees, and students, the latter of whom make up 30 percent of the band. Ages range from sixth grade to 90 years old, so considering all they encompass, this ensemble really hits all the notes. 

All JWB performances are free to the public, with approximately 15 full band concerts each year, about half of which are outdoors. There is also a John Walter Quintet with more scheduling flexibility that puts on a few more shows. Popular performance locations for the full band and quintet include Rotary Park in Cape May and Historic Cold Spring Village in the summer or the Cape May County Zoo in summer and winter.  They also frequent Wildwood’s Byrne Plaza in the winter. 

The man behind the band, John Walter, was a retired musical director at White Hall School District in Pennsylvania, who moved south to Avalon, New Jersey.

In 1996 he advertised casually in a local newspaper, looking for musicians to gather and play. When 32 performers showed up, they eventually formed The Community Concern Band of Middle Township.

John Walter passed away in 1998 doing what he loved during a performance at Rotary Park. It was after that the board of directors elected to change the band name in his honor. They are titled The John Walter Cape Community Band, a non-profit corporation and charity registered under the original title. 

The band’s current president, Bill Winters, was put in charge in 2014 to help further develop the organization. Bill gave me a rundown of the band’s extensive instrumental set-up: a collection of woodwinds, high and low brass instruments, saxophones in multiple pitches, percussion instruments, and basses. That sounds like a lot of sound.

Another key figure of the JWB is the band’s music director, Dominic Scalfaro, a seasoned trumpeter and educated musician. He garnered this position only a few years ago after his wife, Kasia, began playing flute with the band. Along with conducting, he is in charge of choosing themes and repertoire for the concerts. 

After wrapping up their momentous annual summer concert series, which included the largest Rotary Park concert of the summer, nearing 500 attendees, the JWB relaxed in September in preparation for the Christmas season. Their holiday concert series of 2023 is titled Splendor of the Holidays, kicking off with the Cape May County Zoo Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 25th. 

Bill Winters commented on their biggest holiday concert of 2023 on December 3rd at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) in Middle Township, “This year, we are very fortunate to share the stage with the Angelus Community Singers, a wonderful chorus of talented voices from across Cape May County, in addition to several outstanding vocal soloists.”

Music conductor Dominic Scalfaro reflects on the joy of the holiday series: “Our tree lighting ceremony at the Cape May County Zoo and working hand in hand to bring Santa and our music together brings smiles and excitement to kids and adults alike.”

Along with performing music for the sake of enjoyment, the JWB puts an emphasis on community outreach. “Our focus is to promote the performing arts in Cape May County through several unique initiatives,” says Bill Winters. 

For starters, their Music Excellence Program serves to recruit young musicians, mainly students, to learn from some of the finest local musicians through rigorous rehearsals and mentorship as well as encouragement to perform with the band. Such formative and influential exposure early in the musical journey can prove invaluable down the road.

The JWB is not only conscientious about helping musicians start playing but also helping instruments keep playing. They do this by operating a year-round campaign they call Play It Again in which band members collect and refurbish gently used musical instruments and provide schools, organized music programs, and individuals with them. They have accomplished over 85 repairs. Lengthening the life of instruments and supplying members of the community who may not have access to them otherwise is the work of angels of music.

The band members also collect non-perishable food items and supplies at designated concerts year-round and deliver them to local food banks and shelters. The extent of their volunteer services seems ceaseless as we consider their scholarship program and food drives. Music education efforts are paramount pursuits to the JWB and this branch of their arts and family outreach program has allowed assistance to 20 performing arts students in Cape May County. Financial support for these programs comes from the benevolence of audience members and patrons. 

 Bill Winters expressed on behalf of the band their gratitude for the grants they receive from the state. They annually apply for the New Jersey Council on the Arts Grant funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners through the Cape May County Division of Culture & Heritage.  “We are honored that over the past several years, the Cape May County Division of Arts and Heritage has recognized our contributions with financial awards.”

The John Walter band contributes a massive socio-cultural impact to our area both on and off-stage while entertaining the community with pro bono professional-grade performances. This balance is what distinguishes the John Walter Band as a local musical group and civic operation. 

“To perform a selection in its entirety, listening across the band and hearing the high and low pitches, pianissimos the cadence and beat changes, and watching the conductor direct the creation is so rewarding,” says Bill Winters on what continuously promotes his passion and fulfillment within the JWB. “With great pride, I say the JWB belongs to all the residents of Cape May County.”