Brass Festival upcoming
The New York Philharmonic Principals Brass Quintet will headline the Skidmore Brass
Festival Sunday and Monday, Feb. 21 and 22, in the Arthur Zankel Music Center.
Emphasizing education and performance, the festival also will feature the College's
brass faculty and student brass ensembles, and registered festival participants.
The
event is open to high school, college, community, and professional brass players,
who will have the chance to learn from and listen to a premier brass quintet in a
top-notch venue for the entire weekend.
The weekend will include a concert by the New York Philharmonic Principals Brass Quintet
at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21. In addition, quintet members will teach master classes,
coach student ensembles, teach private lessons for Skidmore students, and perform
in collaboration with the festival brass ensemble.
The internationally renowned New York Philharmonic Principals Brass Quintet features
Matthew Muckey (acting principal trumpet), Ethan Bensdorf (associate principal trumpet),
Richard Deane (associate principal horn), Joseph Alessi (principal trombone), and
Alan Baer (principal tuba). The group made its debut in 1983 when its members joined
with the Canadian Brass for a concert in Ottawa, Canada. This was the beginning of
a regular musical collaboration between these two brass quintets. Subsequent joint
performances brought them to the summer festivals of Tanglewood, Wolf Trap, Great
Woods, and Mostly Mozart, as well as concerts in cities throughout Canada and the
United States.
Throughout the weekend, students will have the opportunity to learn from quintet members
through coaching, classes, and conversation. On Monday, Feb. 22, students, will join
with faculty, and members of the New York Philharmonic Brass, for an open reading
session starting at 3 p.m. in the Arthur Zankel Music Center.
Admission for the Feb. 21 New York Philharmonic Brass Quintet concert is free for
students and children, $8 adults, and $5 seniors and Skidmore community. Admission
for the Feb. 22 festival "Reading Session" is free and open to the public. For advance
reservations call the Zankel box office (518) 580-5321 for more information.
