Brass enthusiasts gather for workshops

The University of Lethbridge Music Department brought together brass musicians from across Lethbridge and southern Alberta to learn and play with each other for the third annual Brass Day.

For the last three years, over 50 brass players of all levels from across the province joined together to participate in workshops, work along side respected professionals and develop a sense of community within the brass players.

“This is a day that we all get together and we invite high school and middle school students, as well as community members and our undergraduate students that are all brass players to come and enjoy a day to geek out with brass,” says Nick Sullivan, Professor of Low Brass at the University of Lethbridge.

“A lot of times our music is in a band or an orchestra, a lot of silence and counting, so we want to play together and we want to play more often, so this is to work on our craft, be around likeminded brass players and play music together."

Throughout Saturday, individuals were able to warm up with their instruments, go through various rehearsals, consultation time, look through the trade show and learn valuable skills such as recording to help them further their talent.

Participants also took in a master-class from Laurie Matiation who began her professional career in 1978 and is now currently the Assistant Principal/Third Horn with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. A class on the unique form of Suzuki Brass was also held by Natalie DeJong for people to explore deeper into the sound of brass instruments.

“I think that the one thing that people really pull away from this is the sense of community and the chance to hear other players and know that they are not alone doing it,” says Sullivan. “There are some good musicians here and there are some developing musicians here and everyone playing together allows them to see what they can aspire to but also building a community together as brass musicians.”

At the end of the Brass Day event, all participants in the workshop, along with distinguished guests and faulty members, played together for the public for the Brass Day Recital. The university’s music department always invites new brass players to join their annual event, which changes dates every year.

Herald photo by Greg Bobinec Nick Sullivan directs a group of Low Brass players made up of community members as well as high school and middle school students through a piece of music at the third annual Brass Day workshop at the University of Lethbridge, Saturday morning.