Empire Brass
Empire Brass performing in 2006
Empire Brass performing in 2006
Background information
OriginMassachusetts, U.S.
Years active1971–present
Members
  • Derek Lockhart
  • Eric Berlin
  • Victor Sungarian
  • Greg Spiridopoulos
  • Kenneth Amis
Past members
  • Mark Hetzler
  • Luiz Garcia
  • Eric Ruske
  • Rolf Smedvig
  • Charles Lewis
  • Gregory Miller
  • David Ohanian
  • Mark H. Lawrence
  • Scott Hartman
  • Michelle Perry
  • Sam Pilafian
  • Martin Hackleman
  • Jeffrey Curnow
  • Norman Bolter
  • Lawrence Isaacson
  • Douglas Wright
  • Timothy Morrison
Websitewww.empirebrass.com

Empire Brass is a brass quintet from the United States. The group was founded in 1971. The original members met at Tanglewood Music Center (in Lenox, Massachusetts) in 1970.[1]

Description and history

The quintet chose its name after performing in New York City.[1] (New York is the Empire State.) They continue to tour regularly in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have been the Faculty Quintet-in-Residence at Boston University since 1976.[2]

The Empire Brass have appeared on Good Morning America, Today Show and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.[3] They also make joint concert appearances with organist Douglas Major.[4]

Members

As of May 2015, its members include:

Previous members include:

Discography

  • Russian Brass (1977)
  • Baroque Brass (1977)
  • Empire Brass Quintet and Friends - American Brass Band Journal (1978)
  • Renaissance Brass (1979)
  • Broadway Brass (1980)
  • Empire Brass Quintet (Hovhaness, Hindemith, Bohme, Dvorak) (1980)
  • The Empire Brass Plays Annie (1981)
  • Pachelbel: Kanon & Other Baroque Favorites (1982)
  • A Bach Festival (1986)
  • Joy to the World, Music of Christmas (1988)
  • Empire Brass plays Bernstein, Gershwin & Tilson Thomas (1988)
  • Fireworks (1988)
  • Class Brass (1989)
  • Music of Gabrieli (1989)
  • Music for Organ, Brass & Percussion (1990)
  • Royal Brass: Music from Renaissance & Baroque (1990)
  • Braggin' in Brass (1991)
  • Romantic Brass (1992)
  • On Broadway (1992)
  • Class Brass - On the Edge (1993)
  • Mozart for Brass (1993)
  • Passage (1994)
  • The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas (1996)
  • King's Court and Celtic Fair (1996)
  • Greatest Hits (1997)
  • Class Brass: Firedance (1999)
  • The Glory of Gabrieli (2002)
  • Baroque Music for Brass and Organ (2003)
  • A Bach Festival for Brass & Organ (2005)

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rolf Smedvig, 62; virtuoso trumpeter who cofounded renowned brass quintet". Boston Globe. May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ Wise, Brian (April 28, 2015). "Rolf Smedvig, Trumpeter Who Founded Empire Brass, Dies at 63". WQXR-FM. Retrieved May 8, 2015. The quintet was a co-winner of the Naumberg Chamber Music Award in 1976 and had also begun a long-term residency at Boston University.
  3. ↑ Woodstra, Chris; Brennan, Gerald; Schrott, Allen (2005). All Music Guide to Classical Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 417. ISBN 9780879308650.
  4. ↑ Acton, Nancy (April 21, 2006). "Major weekend treat for organ music lovers". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  5. ↑ Sandomir, Richard (April 12, 2019). "Sam Pilafian, Tuba Maestro of Multiple Genres, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2020.


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