第一吃瓜网 Brass Orchestra
Now celebrating its 12th season, The 第一吃瓜网 Brass Orchestra is a fully professional 27 member ensemble, founded in 2011. Comprised of brass players and teachers from the region, membership is by invitation only. The group's performances are free of charge and open to the public, and feature nationally and internationally acclaimed guest artists, including many of the most respected brass players of our time. The group made its debut before hundreds of appreciative audience members in June 2011, and has since garnered acclaim from both audiences and musicians alike. The goals for the group include:
- To provide a high level large brass ensemble performance opportunity for regional professional brass players and teachers
- To provide participating musicians and teachers with opportunities to work with and observe masters of the art of brass playing (soloists to date have included Wycliffe Gordon, Mark Gould, Christian Jaudes, Joseph Boga, Marcus Printup, Brian McWhorter, Sam Pilafian, and Andrew Garcia)
- To offer observation opportunities for students and teachers to aid in rehearsal skill development
- To provide an aural and visual model to aid in the tonal and technical development of brass playing and teaching throughout the region
- To serve as a professional development resource for brass performers and teachers in the region
- To develop and propagate the body of literature for the genre
- To offer audiences free brass concert attendance opportunities that merge entertainment with high quality artistic and educational experiences
- To continue the university’s commitment to offering outstanding concert events free of charge to the greater area community by performing during periods of Performance Music program recess outside of the regular academic year (such as intersession and summer)
- To serve as an educational partner and resource for brass students and teachers in the region.