Posted by Jesse Shayne
After Ensemble ACJW's successful visit, the Arthur Zankel Music Center will be hosting another professional music group, the Chestnut Brass Company.
This Grammy Award-winning group will be performing at Zankel on Feb 11.
Hailing from Philadelphia, the Chestnut Brass Company is a five-member brass instrument group that formed as a street band in 1977.
The quintet has since performed all over the world and received much acclaim. The group has performed numerous original pieces and released multiple albums.
The Chestnut Brass Company will be performing some of their works at Zankel. They will demo some of the various instruments they play, including a baroque and period instrument class.
Members of the Chestnut Brass Company consist of Bruce Barrie and John Charles Thomas on trumpet, Marian Hesse on French horn, Jay Krush on tuba and Larry Zimmerman on trombone.
Like many other professional guest artists who have visited Zankel in the past, the Chestnut Brass Company will be teaching a master class on Feb 12.
During this workshop-styled class, students will perform in front of members of the Chestnut Brass Company who will provide them with feedback.
"Its purpose is to help the participants and audience to understand certain aspects of playing depending on what they play and how they play. It's mostly constructive criticism," said the Music Department's Trumpet Lecturer, Eric Latini.
One of the defining characteristics of a master class is the informal level at which they are held.
Students can watch the guest artists perform up-close and comfortably ask questions and receive advice in a more relaxed atmosphere.
"The master class is a good opportunity for individuals to get in front of their peers, play and learn," Latini said.
When they are not performing as a group, each member of the group teaches their given instrument in a collegiate setting, although they are all experienced at playing multiple brass instruments.
Some of the Chestnut Brass Board members have also performed in various distinguishable groups including the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, Queens Symphony and the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra.
These visits from renowned groups provide a good opportunity for students to gain valuable, first-hand experience.
"It's a great chance to hear a solid professional group perform, and be close to them on an instructional level," Latini said.