Spring Break
UConn To Host Brass Festival
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Focus
UConn will sponsor a day-long Brass Festival at von der Mehden Recital Hall, Saturday. Similar to the Cello Festival held in late January, the day will include musical performances from masters of the art such as the Bala Brass and the U.S. Coast Guard Brass Quintet, as well as workshops and clinics to help high school, college and professional musicians hone their skills.
The day will begin with a free opening performance by the US Coast Guard Brass Quintet at noon open to the public. At 1:30 p.m., following the performance, will be workshops for high school, college and professional musicians with the guest artists and faculty. During the afternoon, there will be a reading session of brass ensemble music open to all participants of the festival.
The festival concert, which will be held in the afternoon at 4:30, will feature the winning high school and college quintets that participated in the festival competition joined by the festival artists and faculty. The day will conclude with a 7 p.m. concert presented by the Bala Brass.
The U.S. Coast Guard Brass Quintet, known for a repertoire ranging from classic brass literature to marches and popular genres, performs in a variety of capacities which showcase its scope. The quintet's most notable appearance was on CNN in 1986 as part of the centennial celebration and rededication of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Each year the quintet performs for many cabinet-level functions in Washington, D.C.
The award-winning Bala Brass has won the hearts of audiences around the globe with their infectious spirit and enthusiastic musical performances. Dedicated to their craft, Bala has been invited to participate in various festivals and competitions worldwide including the Osaka International Chamber Music Festa in Japan in 2001. The group was awarded the bronze medal at the 2001 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, as well as being honored as a finalist in the 2001 Coleman Chamber Music Competition.
The brass quintet is strongly committed to fostering music through education, and in keeping with this mission they conduct master classes and educational concerts for students at many universities in the country such as UMass, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Lakeside College, the Conservatory of Music at SUNY Purchase, Phillips Academy and Bridgewater State College. Bala was also the featured ensemble in residence at the 2004 Shepherd College All-Star Brass Weekend. Continuing its drive to promote brass wind chamber music, Bala is active in commissioning new works for the genre. The 2006 season includeD the release of Bala's first full album of music for brass quintet, including two never before recorded full-length quintets.
The day will begin with a free opening performance by the US Coast Guard Brass Quintet at noon open to the public. At 1:30 p.m., following the performance, will be workshops for high school, college and professional musicians with the guest artists and faculty. During the afternoon, there will be a reading session of brass ensemble music open to all participants of the festival.
The festival concert, which will be held in the afternoon at 4:30, will feature the winning high school and college quintets that participated in the festival competition joined by the festival artists and faculty. The day will conclude with a 7 p.m. concert presented by the Bala Brass.
The U.S. Coast Guard Brass Quintet, known for a repertoire ranging from classic brass literature to marches and popular genres, performs in a variety of capacities which showcase its scope. The quintet's most notable appearance was on CNN in 1986 as part of the centennial celebration and rededication of the Statue of Liberty in New York. Each year the quintet performs for many cabinet-level functions in Washington, D.C.
The award-winning Bala Brass has won the hearts of audiences around the globe with their infectious spirit and enthusiastic musical performances. Dedicated to their craft, Bala has been invited to participate in various festivals and competitions worldwide including the Osaka International Chamber Music Festa in Japan in 2001. The group was awarded the bronze medal at the 2001 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, as well as being honored as a finalist in the 2001 Coleman Chamber Music Competition.
The brass quintet is strongly committed to fostering music through education, and in keeping with this mission they conduct master classes and educational concerts for students at many universities in the country such as UMass, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Lakeside College, the Conservatory of Music at SUNY Purchase, Phillips Academy and Bridgewater State College. Bala was also the featured ensemble in residence at the 2004 Shepherd College All-Star Brass Weekend. Continuing its drive to promote brass wind chamber music, Bala is active in commissioning new works for the genre. The 2006 season includeD the release of Bala's first full album of music for brass quintet, including two never before recorded full-length quintets.
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