Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--The April 23 performance by an internationally recognized brass ensemble will conclude Mississippi State University's 2006-07 Lyceum Series.
The Canadian Brass' appearance in the historic Lee Hall auditorium will mark the first Starkville appearance of the virtuoso quintet that has been featured in concert halls around the world.
Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. concert are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens (65 and over by request), and $8 for children ages 3-12. MSU students will be admitted free with valid student identification.
Now in its 36th season, the group includes Joe Burgstaller and Ryan Anthony on trumpet; Bernhard Scully, horn; Gene Watts, trombone; and Chuck Daellenbach, tuba. Watts and Daellenbach are original members.
The Brass has a long history of recording classical repertoire, with special affinities for Baroque music and the works of J.S. Bach. Their more than 60 recordings include works by Purcell, Vivaldi, Gabrieli, Pachelbel, Beethoven, and Wagner.
Often dubbed the "Fabulous Five" by their fans, the veteran musicians spend most of each year on tour, including frequent appearances with major symphony orchestras in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Japan.
Having started with the very limited base of traditional selections for brass, the group began creating their own musical world by transcribing, arranging and commissioning more than 200 works. "Quintet" by Michael Kamen is the most recent example.
In addition to its classical repertoire, Canadian Brass performs jazz, contemporary concert music and popular songs. In addition to such television productions as The Tonight Show, Today, and Entertainment Tonight, they have appeared as guest artists on Evening at Pops with John Williams and the Boston Pops, Beverly Sills' Music Around the World and numerous public broadcasting specials.
They also have produced eight videos, including the recently released "Three Nights with Canadian Brass."
When not performing, the five are chamber quintet-in-residence at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California. Additionally, they frequently are invited by the Canadian government to perform for visiting heads of states at official occasions.
As if those weren't enough to occupy their schedules, they have created an innovative brass summer course at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
Individual reserved tickets to the MSU event are available in advance at www.ticketweb.com, or by mailing a check and stamped, self-addressed envelope to MSU Lyceum Series Individual Tickets, P.O. Box HY, Mississippi State, MS 39762. General admission tickets for the performance will be available at the door.
---------------------------
For more information on this Lyceum Series program, telephone 662-325-4201 or visit www.msstate.edu/dept/lyceum. Artist information is available at www.a-c-t-s-inc.com.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.