The Illinois Brass Band, a group made up of 30 volunteer musicians dedicated to bringing British-style brass band music to audiences in Chicago and throughout the Midwest, will perform in concert, Sunday, November 13 at 7 p.m. at the NIU School of Music in Boutell Memorial Concert Hall.
The Illinois Brass Band is directed by Stephen Squires, who served on the NIU School of Music faculty for 19 years. Performing with the band this evening is bass trombonist Paul Bauer who served as both dean of the NIU College of Visual and Performing Arts and director of the School of Music before his retirement.
Current director of the School of Music, Andrew Glendening will perform as a featured trombone soloist, and Christopher Scanlon, assistant professor and coordinator of the brass area at NIU will perform as a featured cornet soloist.
George Foster and William Holmer founded The Illinois Brass Band in February of 1991 with assistance from Boosey and Hawkes. The band is composed of thirty volunteer musicians and is the most senior of Illinois’ brass bands.
As a member of the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA), IBB attended its first competition in 1993. IBB won first place in NABBA’s Honors Division in 1994 and followed with an unprecedented string of six championships in seven years (1996- 2002) in the Championship Division. IBB also represented NABBA at the Great American Brass Band Festival in 1999 and was honored to attend the 2003 British Open Brass Band Championships – the first brass band outside the British Commonwealth to compete in this prestigious event.
The band has released several recordings: A Christmas Fantasy; Championship Brass; Shaken’ … not Stirred; Live and Kickin; Hark!; and most recently Cookin’ With Brass. IBB has also showcased exceptional guest soloists, including internationally renowned euphonium virtuosi Robert and David Childs, cornet soloist Roger Webster, trombone soloist Brett Baker, and euphonium David Thornton. IBB has astonished audiences with the power, virtuosity, and beauty of the British-style brass band and breadth of its repertoire. Through performances, recordings, and participation in competitions and festivals, IBB continues to bring the excitement of brass band music to general audiences and brass aficionados alike.
Illinois Brass Band
NIU School of Music, Boutell Memorial Concert Hall
Sunday, November 13, 7 p.m.
Roster
Soprano Cornet
Marc Smith
Solo Cornets
Brian Ferguson
Mike Ackerman
Karen Griffin
Eugen Goman
Repiano Cornet
Kim Muehling
2nd Cornets
Mike Lipinski
Cathy Kapocius
Zhengkui Xie
3rd Cornets
Jim Sobacki
Dana Antosz
Alex Katernoza
Flugelhorn
Ry Muehling
Solo Horn
Melody Velleuer
1st horn
Doug Lim
2nd Horn
Carol Dickenson
1st Baritone
Sara Sneyd
2nd Baritone
Erik Bateman
1st Trombone
Madelyn Srajer
2nd Trombone
Chris Tutza
Bass Trombone
Paul Bauer
1st Euphonium
Mike Taylor
2nd Euphoniums
Paul Eakley
Matt Kaempfe
Eb Tubas
Rob Barnes
Andy Rollins
Bb Tubas
Dan Bethel
Bill Kaempfe
Percussion
Alyssa Schwark
Music Director
Stephen Squires
