Rowan Big Band to perform at Agri-Civic Center

Published 6:13 pm Tuesday, January 27, 2026

ALBEMARLE — An 18-piece community big band will help set the mood for Valentine’s Day with a live concert in Albemarle next month.

Presented by the Stanly County Concert Association, the Rowan Big Band is scheduled to perform Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students and are available at stanlyconcert.com. Stanly County Concert Association members will be admitted free with a current season pass.

Based in Landis, the Rowan Big Band performs jazz in the classic style of Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, featuring big band and swing music alongside favorites from the Great American Songbook.

The ensemble is known for its expansive repertoire, which includes ballads, swing standards, pop selections, vocal features and solo instrument showcases.

As a nonprofit organization, the band pairs its musical mission with community service. Founder Ron Turbyfill envisioned the group as both a tribute to a uniquely American musical tradition and a way to give back, with members volunteering their time and performance proceeds supporting charitable causes.

“First organized in 2006, we have dedicated ourselves to performing for the enjoyment of our audiences, to preserve this authentically American form of music and to help raise money for worthwhile local charities in the community,” the Rowan Big Band said in its mission statement. “The net proceeds from our musical performances are used to support worthwhile local charities.”

Over the years, the band has performed at benefits for a wide range of organizations, including Communities in Schools, Speedway Children’s Charities, the United Service Organizations, the American Cancer Society, The American Legion Auxiliary and the W.G. Hefner Salisbury VA Medical Center.

The Valentine’s Day concert has been promoted as both a musical outing and a date-night option.

“Already making plans for a special evening with your valentine? After a delicious meal, head out to the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center to hear the Rowan Big Band in concert,” the Stanly County Arts Council said in an advertisement. “They will be bringing their special variety of familiar tunes Saturday, Feb. 14th, at 7 p.m.”

In addition to the concert, attendees will have a chance to win door prizes, including a $100 gift certificate to 73 and Main in Mount Pleasant and a $50 gift certificate to Yadkin Valley Steakhouse in Albemarle.

The performance will mark the third of four concerts in the Stanly County Concert Association’s 2025-26 season, with the series concluding April 12 at 4 p.m. in a performance by the Salisbury Brass Ensemble.

Established in 1947, the Stanly County Concert Association has presented local live music for nearly eight decades, first at Albemarle High School, later at Pfeiffer College and now at the Stanly County Agri-Civic Center for the past 37 years.