AMERICAN BRASS QUINTET

Tuesday, October 21, and
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Guest Artist Master Classes
American Brass Quintet (ABQ)
Open rehearsal and forum – Creating a life in chamber music:  Tuesday, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Master class – ABQ low brass:  Tuesday, 4:00–5:30 p.m.
Master class – ABQ:  Tuesday, 7:30–9:00 p.m.
Master class – ABQ trumpets:  Wednesday, 12:00–1:30 p.m.
All events in Stude Concert Hall

Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Guest Artist Concert
American Brass Quintet
Program: Thomas Morley - Elizabethan Ayres; Osvaldo Lacerda - Quinteto Concertante; Anders Hillborg - Brass Quintet; David Sampson - Entrance; Josquin des Pres - Chansons; and Joan Tower - Copperwave.
8:00 p.m., Stude Concert Hall

Currently in its forty-ninth season, the AMERICAN BRASS QUINTET has been internationally recognized as one of the premiere chamber music ensembles of our time. The ABQ's rich history includes performances in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and all fifty of the United States; a discography of over fifty recordings; the premieres of over one-hundred contemporary brass works, and in the last decade, mini-residencies that have brought the ABQ's chamber music expertise to countless young musicians and institutions worldwide. ABQ commissions by Samuel Adler, Bruce Adolphe, Daniel Asia, Jan Bach, Robert Beaser, William Bolcom, Elliott Carter, Jacob Druckman, Eric Ewazen, Anthony Plog, Huang Ruo, Steven Sacco, David Sampson, Gunther Schuller, William Schuman, Ralph Shapey, Melinda Wagner, and Charles Whittenberg, are considered among the most significant contributions to the modern brass quintet repertoire. In the last two seasons, the ABQ has premiered new works by Robert Dennis, Robert Maggio, Paul Moravec, David Sampson, Adam Schoenberg, and Joan Tower, and released three new recordings—In Gabrieli’s Day (the music of 16th century Venice), Cheer Boys Cheer (volume two of civil war brass music of the 26th N.C. Regimental Band), and Jewels (ABQ concert favorites). Last season the ABQ premiered and toured 2 Elements for brass quintet and piano by Grammy-winning composer-pianist Billy Childs commissioned for the ABQ by a grant from the New York State Music Fund. In the summer of 2008, a new quintet by Gordon Beeferman will be premiered at the Aspen Music Festival. This work is the first commission supported by a multi-year grant from the Jerome Foundation for new brass quintets from emerging composers. Future premieres supported by this program include new works by Schafer Mahoney and Trevor Gureckis.

Equally committed to the promotion of brass chamber music through education, the American Brass Quintet has been in residence at The Juilliard School since 1987 and at the Aspen Music Festival since 1970. Many young ensembles, including the Extension Ensemble, Manhattan Brass Quintet, and the Meridian Arts Ensemble have worked with the ABQ through these residencies, and gone on to establish their own presence in the brass chamber music field. Since 2001 the ABQ has offered its expertise in chamber music performance and training with a program of mini-residencies as part of its regular touring season. Designed to offer young groups and individuals an intense chamber music experience over several days, ABQ mini-residencies have been embraced by schools and communities throughout the United States and internationally.

Through its acclaimed performances, diverse programming, commissioning, extensive discography and educational mission, the ABQ has created a legacy unparalleled in the brass field. Hailed as "the high priests of brass" by Newsweek, "positively breathtaking" by the New York Times, and "of all the brass quintets, the most distinguished" by the American Record Guide, the American Brass Quintet has clearly defined itself among the elite chamber music ensembles of our time.