The West Point Brass (USA)

The West Point Brass (formerly the Storm King Brass) is comprised of musicians in the West Point Band. Founded in 2003, the ensemble presents a diverse repertoire, from Renaissance to modern works, to its audiences. In support of military functions, the quintet has entertained the United States Corps of Cadets and performed for many visiting dignitaries and heads of state at West Point. Additionally, the ensemble actively performs throughout the New York metropolitan area. The ensemble has also been featured throughout the country, including performances in Florida, Oregon, Connecticut, South Dakota, Utah, and Iowa.

LISTEN TO THE WEST POINT BRASS
Two-Step for Mr. B
MTV for Jerry

The United States Army Brass Quintet

The U.S. Army Brass Quintet has entertained nation-wide audiences with its performances on National Public Radio, NBC’s “Today Show,” the CBS “Sunday Morning Show,” ABC, Fox TV, CNN, TNN, “Larry King Live,” as well as international audiences on the BBC. It has also performed on a wide variety of local and regional broadcasts such as WCBS in New York. Recently, the Army Brass Quintet found itself performing the National Anthem for televised Major League Baseball, NBA, and NHL games as well as NASCAR races. It has even been featured on the Food Network.

The repertoire for the ensemble includes over 500 selections from all eras and genres of classical music as well as a variety of popular music, interactive entertainment, video, and works for children’s concerts. The Army Brass Quintet’s library also includes historic music from the American Civil War which the ensemble enjoys performing on authentic instruments. Commissioned works as well as works produced by The U.S. Army Band’s arranging staff complete its repertoire.

The U.S. Army Brass Quintet enjoys an outstanding tradition of supporting national and international educational conferences such as Music Educators National Conference, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, as well as the international conferences of the various brass associations. The ensemble was the first military group to start the tradition of performing for the instrument associations in 1977 at the International Trumpet Guild Conference.

Guca Madness 13-08 - 22-08-10 (Serbia)

The village of gucha in the Dragacevo district, peaceful and colorful part of western Serbia , has gained world fame owing to its Assembly of Trumpet Players, the largest trumpet event on the planet. The love of the people of Dragacevo for music, especially for the trumpet, began in the rule of Prince Milos Obrenovic, who ordered the formation of the first military band in 1831. From then until now the trumpet has reigned here uninterrupted while woodwind instruments, in keeping with the customs, warm the soul of its population. The sound of the trumpet traditionally accompanies every major event in Serbia's rural and small-town life: births, baptisms, weddings, Slav {family patron saint day}, farewell parties for those joining military service, state and church festivals, harvesting, reaping, and also departing this world. Appropriate music is played on these occasions, thus preserving the spirit of the existing tradition. The music is very diverse: from indigenous melodies, via kolo {a fast-rhythm chain dance}, marches and characteristic southern Serbia cocek dances, all the way to tunes that have emerged more recently, but always taking care to honor old harmonies. This music has won over the hearts of not only the local population, but has also warmed the hearts of outsiders and foreigners. In the several days of the Gucha festival, hardly anyone can resist giving themselves to the adrenalin-rushing rhythms and melodies that simply force one to jump to ones feet and dance.

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Guca 2007 - Documentary
Geüpload door nickstreet83. - Muziek video's, interviews met artiesten, concerten en meer.

Durham International Festival 3-18 July 2010 (UK)

The sun is shining and summer is on its way, this can only mean one thing - BRASS 2010: Durham International Festival is just around the corner.

Saturday 3rd July signals the start of a monster programme of Brass music from Trad to Funk, Classical to Jazz and Afro-beat to Soul… the World Music community is preparing to pack its suitcase and head to one of Europe’s only festivals dedicated to the much loved sound of Brass.
Festival organisers [Durham County Council] have dug deep into the roots of Brass to assemble a fresh programme that can move, groove and prove the true power and magnetism of Brass music; and especially emphasise the high quality of British Brass bands playing in Britain today.
“BRASS is gaining a growing global reputation for inspiring a whole new generation of musicians. The festival’s versatility enables talented young amateur players to perform alongside professional musicians at the top of their game. The showcase is keeping the spirit of Brass music alive,” said Neil Hillier, Strategic Manager – Heritage and Culture for Durham County Council.

This year’s festival is pulling no punches as it promises to be a knockout event providing two weeks of the hottest music and performance around. BRASS has it all, BIG names, BIG sounds and BIG aspirations.
Music goers can pack their festival fortnight full to bursting point with music that will entertain, astound and inspire - created by elite performers who’ve been gathered from over 20 countries from around the world including Germany, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, Benin and the UK.
The shows will take place in a variety of venues, large and small across County Durham including The Gala Theatre, Durham Cathedral, Durham Town Hall, Durham University’s Students Union and Passmore's Apollo Pavilion in Peterlee.

The line-up of performances can be experienced right across County Durham from Durham City through to rural village halls. BRASS combines ‘the Best of the Best’ with a crop of up and coming stars of the future, performing concerts, collaborations, residencies and practical workshops.

Go to the festival highlights!

Slokar Quartet (Switzerland)

The Slokar Quartet whose members are Branimir Slokar, György Gyivicsan, Wassil Christov and Armin Bachmann, have already celebrated their 35th anniversary.
During this long and fruitful period of intense concert activity all over the world they have built up a very broad repertoire which ranges from arrangements of early baroque music to first performances of contemporary works. These four dedicated mudicians delight their audiences with their homogeneous sound, their brilliant virtuosity and their profound musicianship, which they often present in a very charming and humorous manner.
Many important contemporary composers have been inspired to collaborate intensively with the Slokar Quartet, which has led to a significant expansion of present-day trombone literature.
The latest Slokar Quartet CD - "Trombone Virtuoso" is on its way now!

Hans Gansch

Hans Gansch was born in 1953 in Kirnberg an der Mank, Austria. At the age of seven, he received his first music instruction from his father Johann Gansch (on the recorder and the small drum). When he was 11, he started playing trumpet in a band lead by his father. He studied trumpet with Professor Franz Veigl at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz.

From 1974 to 1976 he held the position as principal trumpeter with the Brucknerorchester Linz and from 1976 to 1982 he held the same position in the Symphony Orchestra of the Austrian Broadcast. From 1982 to 1996 he was first trumpeter in the Orchestra of the Viennese State Opera and with the Vienna Philharmonic. Since 1996, Hans Gansch has been trumpet professor at the Mozarteum in Salzburg.

Raya Brass Band (USA)

Raya Brass Band (pronounced “RYE ah”) is the sort of brass band that gleefully mashes up the music of Eastern Europe with funky American dance grooves, Reggaeton, and whatever else it gets its hands on. Featuring odd meters, unusual scales and a fine helping of gorgeous Balkan and Romany (Gypsy) melodies played on reeds, trumpet, accordion, tuba and drums, Raya Brass Band slakes the thirst for something old and new at the same time, unusual and funky, spiritedly played by some of NYC’s finest Balkan folk musicians.

Raya Brass Band draws in both average listeners and Eastern European folk music aficionados alike with its energetic and engaging portable show. As a fully acoustic ensemble, Raya Brass Band can wander freely, bringing a Balkan style dance party everywhere it goes. With members of the band ready to teach basic Balkan dances at the drop of a hat, the audience can choose to listen, learn some new dance steps, or shake everything they’ve got however they like!

Jorgen Welander (Sweden) - Funky tuba solo

Brass Ballet (Germany)

BRASSBALLETT is not just the name of a band, but a new musical genre.
That kind of music which transforms musicians into dancers and the practice room into a dancehall.
Modern brass music fuses with such styles of dance like Hip-Hop, Salsa, Street Dance, Tango and many more.
It’s all about reaching one goal: that you, dear audience won’t get bored and possibly will be able to say it the end of our show – WOW!
 
Video HERE and HERE

Brett Baker (UK)

"The name Brett Baker has become an established, household name in the world of brass, not least for the level of commitment and focus that this outstanding musician has given to his craft. Brett has always combined ‘Nature with Nurture' in an ever evolving quest for personal fulfilment in and through his music making. His outstanding musical accomplishments are testament to his ‘can do' attitude combining his talent with tenacity and his desire with determination. Brett was always destined to fulfil his personal goals and aspirations and I believe the future ‘new generation' of British brass enthusiasts have much to glean from seeking to emulate the formulae and foundation principles that Brett continues to share with those that search to live their own dream and draw on the resource of his knowledge and experience." Professor David King

Brett Baker is well established as one of the finest trombonists in Europe and has been described as being at the pinnacle of his glittering career. As principal trombone in Black Dyke Band - one of the most famous brass bands in the world - and as a guest soloist who has appeared with many other bands in Europe, America, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, together with his many solo recordings, technical accomplishments and warm personality, Brett's fame and popularity is truly world-wide. Add to this his commissioning of new works for trombone, teaching, conducting and adjudicating skills (he is a clinician for Michael Rath Trombones) and his reputation as an exceptional all-round musician is assured.

Polished Brass Quintet (Canada)

Ottawa's Polished Brass Quintet was founded in 1995 by a very fine gentleman named Bob Antosik. Bob's three-decade working career was in the RCMP, then CMHC. He played the tuba as a hobby for many years; then, after "retirement", he pulled together a group of brass-playing friends, including the late Sid Holmes, a trumpet legend in Ottawa, scrounged some quintet music, and the Polished Brass was born. Over the years, individual members have come and gone, but Bob remained throughout, encouraging new players, keeping the rehearsals going and the music flowing. Bob's dedication was proven beyond a doubt when, the day after a long afternoon concert at the Mackenzie-King estate, it was determined that he had done the whole event with a broken hip!


Bob Antosik died on 20 September 2009 at the age of 76. He had played a concert with the band just four days earlier. As the tuba player, he was necessarily the musical "anchor" of the Polished Brass Quintet, but that title fit in many other ways as well. The other members miss him.

With a library of over 500 numbers, they can tailor a programme for just about any event or musical taste. Indeed, they've played in parades and flotillas, for receptions and weddings, Church services and cultural events. They have played on Parliament Hill for a couple of thousand people, but they also entertained in hospitals for a couple of dozen.

Listen to 'Ain't Misbehavin'

The Venezuelan Brass Ensemble

The Venezuelan Brass Ensemble has set itself the task of giving fresh impetus to brass-instrument education in Venezuela. Since its foundation under the patronage of José Antonio Abreu, father of the Venezuelan orchestral movement, the Venezuelan Brass Ensemble has raised its professionalism to a high level with the exemplary support of internationally recognized musicians. Thanks to the academic guardianship assumed by the Berlin Philharmonic, and the financial support given by the Inter-American Development Bank, high-calibre teachers have been signed up for master classes in Venezuela.