Post by Admin on Feb 6, 2017 21:32:26 GMT
The Milwaukee Festival Brass will continue its 32nd season with “Top Brass”, a concert that celebrates the tradition of stunning musical artistry by brass bands and their players across the decades. This program will include classic brass band repertoire, along with recent compositions and popular items.
Recounting the history of brass bands, Director, Mark A. Taylor relates, “Brass bands were originally formed by factory workers and coal miners in the 19th century. Many times the players had no formal musical training at all. Yet, these passionate musicians brought recreations of the great operas and orchestral works to life through the brass and percussion of the band, often achieving unbelievable feats of technique and musicianship in the process. This tradition lives on in brass bands still today”.
This concert is sure to delight listeners with everything from stirring marches to film scores. Highlights will include the epic and majestic Act II finale: “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral”, from Richard Wagner’s opera, “Lohengrin”.
In addition, two noteworthy soloists will be featured in the program. The first is the band’s newly-named principal solo cornet, Krystal Esty, who will perform a haunting arrangement of Joy Webb’s “Share My Yoke”. The second is Kelly Eshbaugh, a master’s degree candidate in trombone performance at UW-Milwaukee. She will present a movement from Chris Brubeck’s witty and beguiling ”Concerto for Bass Trombone”.
The band will conclude its performance with a preview of “Fanfares and Love Songs”, a recent work by young British composer, Gavin Higgins. This is the piece the band will perform at the 2017 North American Brass Band Association’s annual contest where it will defend its Third Section Championship title.
Milwaukee Festival Brass presents “Top Brass” on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 7:00pm at the Father Robert Carney Performing Arts Center at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee. Doors open at 6:30; concert tickets are $12, or $9 for seniors and students. Group rates are available. For more information, please visit the band’s website at
www.mfbrass.org
Recounting the history of brass bands, Director, Mark A. Taylor relates, “Brass bands were originally formed by factory workers and coal miners in the 19th century. Many times the players had no formal musical training at all. Yet, these passionate musicians brought recreations of the great operas and orchestral works to life through the brass and percussion of the band, often achieving unbelievable feats of technique and musicianship in the process. This tradition lives on in brass bands still today”.
This concert is sure to delight listeners with everything from stirring marches to film scores. Highlights will include the epic and majestic Act II finale: “Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral”, from Richard Wagner’s opera, “Lohengrin”.
In addition, two noteworthy soloists will be featured in the program. The first is the band’s newly-named principal solo cornet, Krystal Esty, who will perform a haunting arrangement of Joy Webb’s “Share My Yoke”. The second is Kelly Eshbaugh, a master’s degree candidate in trombone performance at UW-Milwaukee. She will present a movement from Chris Brubeck’s witty and beguiling ”Concerto for Bass Trombone”.
The band will conclude its performance with a preview of “Fanfares and Love Songs”, a recent work by young British composer, Gavin Higgins. This is the piece the band will perform at the 2017 North American Brass Band Association’s annual contest where it will defend its Third Section Championship title.
Milwaukee Festival Brass presents “Top Brass” on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 7:00pm at the Father Robert Carney Performing Arts Center at Pius XI High School in Milwaukee. Doors open at 6:30; concert tickets are $12, or $9 for seniors and students. Group rates are available. For more information, please visit the band’s website at
www.mfbrass.org