Washburn students and faculty gathered in the White Concert Hall on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 10:30 a.m. to perform together and celebrate the Department of Music’s annual Brass Day, the event lasted until 6 p.m.
This year’s Brass Day was hosted by Coleman Scott, who is new this year on the music faculty at Washburn. This event brings together brass players from not only Washburn, but also several high schools and middle schools, who sat with the ensemble during “Apex” by Peter Meechan.
“The Brass Day is a huge recruitment tool for us to get high school and middle school students on our campus, and give them an insight into what it would be like to study here at Washburn,” Scott said.
One of the most demanding works of the day, according to Anya Pogorelova, the conductor, was “Mothership” by Mason Bates. She explained that it’s on a click track and it has an unusual form. A click track refers to a series of regular, percussive sounds used to guide the tempo of a song.
Keith Benjamin, featured guest, performed a trumpet solo in “Apex.”
Four other soloists played in the “Concertino for Tuba and Winds” by Rolf Wilhelm. Nathan Alvarez was on the soprano saxophone, Sierra Breedlove on the E flat clarinet, and Michael Crawford on the washtub bass.
The faculty brass quintet also played together during “Iron Horse” by Keven Mckee. Scott and Dalton Imhoff-Brey were on the trumpet, Andrea Stanton was on the horn, Paul Hunt was on the trombone and Patrick Yeh was on the tuba.
The day also marked several personal milestones within the department. It was Yeh’s first Brass Day, coinciding with his birthday, and the final concert of three members, Cade Boswell, Katt Higgins and Cameron Arnold.
Arnold reflected on the moment with a mixture of gratitude and nostalgia.
“It was bittersweet,” Arnold said. “These people are people who I’ve been with for four years. Some of which have graduated. It’s interesting to see how you go from watching the upper classes…After a few years, you’re in that position and people are looking to you for guidance.”
The day left behind a mix of accomplishment and reflection, echoing the connections between musicians that make Brass Day significant for so many players.
Edited by Bidhya Sapkota and Stuti Khadka
