PHILIPPI, W.Va. – The AB Brass of Alderson Broaddus University will hold its 18th Annual “Brass in the Grass” Festival Saturday and Sunday, April 23-24, 2016.
This year’s festival features two concerts; both will take place on the AB campus, each with its own entirely different repertoire, and admission is free. The first concert is Saturday evening, April 23 at 7:30 pm in Wilcox Chapel and the second is Sunday afternoon, April 24 at 3 pm. The Sunday afternoon concert will be outdoors on the plaza in front of Wilcox Chapel weather permitting. If weather conditions are not conclusive or the area is damp, it will be moved inside Wilcox. The public is invited to attend either or both concerts, and asked to bring a blanket or folding lawn chair for the Sunday afternoon concert if played outdoors.
This year’s event will have the highest turnout ever in terms of participants. While past years saw as many as 84 players, this year there will be a total of 108 performers on stage for the planned mass brass ensemble pieces. Other selections will feature smaller ensembles, some for this year’s current AB Brass membership, and others for alumni ensembles and mixed groups, small and large.
Among the performing participants will be 49 alumni and former members of the AB Brass, coming from as far away as Illinois, Texas, Alabama, and Canada. Five decades of alums will be represented, indicating the long-standing tradition of excellence in brass instrument performance and teaching at the College and subsequent University. Forty-two guest musicians will also perform, including several members of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Charleston, as well as area teachers, active performers, and several high school guests.
The concerts will include a wide variety of musical styles and several soloists (instrumental and vocal) will be featured. Works by noted brass composers such as Richard Strauss, Brian Balmages, Eric Ewazen, Anthony DiLorenzo, and James Stephenson will be performed, in addition to lighter jazz and traditional tunes, and marches.
The AB Brass has been under the direction of Dr. Timothy DeWitt, professor of music, since 1984. Mark your calendars for a great two days of brass music, and hopefully some afternoon time under sunny skies. Contact the School of Music at (304) 457-6200 for further information.
