With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group.”
CANADIAN BRASS
Chuck Daellenbach, tuba, founding member | Joe Burgstaller & Ashley Hall-Tighe, trumpets | Achilles Liarmakopoulos, trombone | Jeff Nelsen, horn
Friends Chuck Daellenbach and Gene Watts first came together in 1970 to form a brass quintet — a chamber music setting not entirely new, but never before having garnered the success and storied career Canadian Brass would achieve over the next 50 years. The three empty chairs were quickly filled and the group’s imagination and consummate musicianship elevated the art of the brass quintet to what it is today.
Masters of concert presentations, Canadian Brass has developed a uniquely engaging stage presence and rapport with audiences. Each of their concerts will show the full range from trademark Baroque and Dixieland tunes to new compositions and arrangements created especially for them. The hallmark of any Canadian Brass performance is entertainment, spontaneity, virtuosity and, most of all, fun – but never at the expense of the music: whatever the style, the music is central and performed with utmost dedication, skill and excellence.
With a discography of over 130 albums and an extensive world-wide touring schedule, Canadian Brass is an important pioneer in bringing brass music to mass audiences everywhere. They have sold well over 2 million albums worldwide, with 1.2 million sold in the Nielsen Soundscan era alone (since 1991).
In addition to numerous tours throughout North America, they have also performed in Australia, the Middle East, the Soviet Union, China and South America. On numerous occasions Canadian Brass has been invited by the Canadian Government to play for visiting heads of states, becoming one of Canada’s greatest resources and musical ambassadors.
In addition to appearances on The Tonight Show, Today, Entertainment Tonight and Sesame Street, the Canadian Brass had more than 1/2 a billion viewers for Chinese New Year on China’s most popular station. They have appeared as guest artists with the Boston Pops, Beverly Sills’ Music Around the World, numerous PBS specials, and were the featured artists on the soundtrack to the 1988 film The Couch Trip. Consummate artists, the quintet has also created unique and interactive videos that have gained an international audience including a series of DVDs featuring the brass in concert and teaching.
Having started with a very limited base, Canadian Brass has created their own musical world by transcribing, arranging and commissioning more than 600 works, including critically acclaimed compositions from Michael Kamen, Luther Henderson, Bramwell Tovey, Don Gillis and more.
Education plays a key role in the story of Canadian Brass and each member is uniquely attuned to training the next generation of players. Canadian Brass was Chamber Quintet-in-Residence for many years at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California, and has created an innovative brass summer course at the Eastman School of Music. Their support of education is also clearly viewed in their outreach and interaction with El Sistema.
Thank you to our Festival Corporate Partner!
