MEADVILLE, Pa. – March 20, 2008 – The quintet Allegheny Brass will debut at Allegheny College on Sunday, April 6 with a free concert at 3 p.m. in Ford Chapel.
The program, which will feature music for a broad range of tastes, includes Gloria from Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, the Ewald Brass Quintet No. 2, Selections from West Side Story, a Roaring 20s medley, and the Canadian Brass arrangement of the Beatles' “When I'm 64.”
Members of the quintet are associated with the college in various capacities. Lowell Hepler, tuba, chairs the music department and directs its 90-member Wind Symphony. He holds the tuba chair with the Erie Philharmonic and has frequently performed as a piano soloist.
Bryan Adkins, French horn, has played with several groups, including the Phoenix Symphony and Mannheim Steamroller. He teaches at St. Bonaventure School in Glenshaw, Pa. Adkins has been principal French horn section leader for the Allegheny College Adult Band Camp for the past four summers and is a member of the Erie Philharmonic.
Jennifer Dearden, trumpet, joined the Allegheny faculty last fall. She earned her D.M.A. from the University of North Texas, where she performed in numerous musical ensembles.
James Seidel, trumpet, chairs the music department at Exeter Township High School in Reading and directs the famous Ringgold Band. He performs throughout Pennsylvania and is trumpet section leader for the college's Adult Band Camp.
Ronald Stitt, trombone, leads the trombone section for the camp and has for several years been a member of the Allegheny College music department faculty. He played with the Erie Philharmonic for 20 years and currently leads or performs with multiple ensembles.
“We are excited by the possibilities offered by formation of the quintet,” Hepler says. “We are having fun rehearsing and look forward to the opportunity to share our music. We hope that others will enjoy the sound of professional brass as much as we do.”
The group anticipates performing throughout the state, playing both traditional classical pieces and modern and popular compositions. The members of Allegheny Brass also hope to make appearances in area schools to encourage young brass players.
For more information, call (814) 332-3356.
