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Nov. 4, 2003 :: No. 90

The Dallas Brass Blows Into Fullerton

Who: PAIR (Professional Artists in Residence) Celebrity Series presents the...
   
What: Dallas Brass performing with the CSUF University Wind Ensemble and High School Honor Band
   
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14, 2003 (one performance only)
   
Where: Plummer Auditorium, 201 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton
   
Background: The Dallas Brass—the internationally renowned sextet of five brass players and a percussionist—will appear in concert along with several special guests: tuba soloist and composer Stanford Freese, Cal State Fullerton’s 70-piece University Wind Ensemble, and a 150-piece high school honor band consisting of student musicians from El Dorado (Placentia), Kennedy (La Palma) and Loara (Anaheim) high schools.

Since its 1983 founding, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The group has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion, creating a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges. Its concert repertoire includes everything from classical masterpieces by Mozart, Debussy, Brahms, Rossini and Tchaikovsky to Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music.

Special guest tuba soloist on November 14 is Stanford Freese, currently talent booking director for the Walt Disney Resorts, a professional musician since the age of 14. Freese will perform two works on the Dallas Brass concert: Herbert L. Clark’s “Carnival of Venice” and his own composition “Country Tuba” which he performed on television’s “Hee Haw,” at the Grand Ole Opry and on the Vandals punk album “Country Tuba.” Freese toured the Soviet Union and China as tuba soloist under State Department auspices and performed in the White House Rose Garden. He also conducted the Walt Disney World Band and Orchestra in Orlando, Florida as well as the Disneyland Band. He has performed and recorded with such notables as Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell as well as the Indiana and Minnesota symphony orchestras.

Know for a strong commitment to music for youth, the Dallas Brass has invited two large ensembles to join them for this performance. Cal State Fullerton’s acclaimed University Wind Ensemble, directed by Mitchell Fennell, will play with the sextet. In addition, a special high school honor band of 150 strong from the three Orange Country high schools will join the Dallas Brass to perform a patriotic American medley based on traditional themes. The student band is made up of musicians from Placentia’s El Dorado (Richard Watson, director), La Palma’s Kennedy (Robert Anthony, director) and Anaheim’s Loara (William Schroeder, director) high schools.

According to Dallas Brass founder, trombonist Michael Levine, their concerts are “intended for the entire family. Our ideal audience has a range from 5 to 95. Our goal is to entertain and enrich by playing great music, while showing our audience how much we enjoy what we do.”

In addition to their solo engagements, the Dallas Brass also appears with symphony orchestras nationwide. Symphonic appearances include the Cincinnati Pops conducted by Erich Kunzel, New York Pops conducted by Skitch Henderson and the Philly Pops conducted by Peter Nero. The ensemble has also performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and on overseas tours to Europe and the Far East (their Fullerton appearance follows an 11-day China tour Oct. 29-Nov. 10).

The ensemble has a strong dedication to working with young musicians, and has developed an extensive “Music in the Schools” project which takes them into public and private schools to present clinics, workshops and concerts for students of all ages. This collaborative effort will be on display November 14 when the Dallas Brass is joined in concert with both university- and high school-level musical ensembles.

The Dallas Brass has released five recordings: “Debut,” “Dallas Brass II,” “A Merry Christmas with Brass,” “Windborne” and “Nutcracker.”

The ensemble’s membership includes: founder Michael Levine, trombone; Brian Neal, trumpet; Jose Sibaja, trumpet; Martin Rhees, trumpet (alumnus of Cal State Fullerton); Deanna Swoboda, tuba; and Brian Hostetler, drums and percussion.

“A first rate brass ensemble … The Dallas Brass can play, beautifully and in a wide variety of styles”—Washington Post

   
Tickets: Advance sales $20 & $25 ($2-off on advance sales with Titan discount — full time students, senior citizens or CSUF ID). At the door all tickets $25 & $20.
   
Box Office:

Performing Arts Center box office 657-278-3371 (11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Mondays-Fridays) or on the Internet at www.tickets.com

   
Internet Sites: www.pair.fullerton.edu or www.dallasbrass.com
   
Photos: Color or black & white photos available by request in digital or hard copy format.
   
Media Contact: Elizabeth Champion, College of the Arts at 657-278-2434