United States / California
Recordings
- 2000 – A Brass and Organ Christmas
- 2011 – Sound the Bells!
Group Biography
Formed in 1995, The Bay Brass, is comprised of a cooperative of players from the San Francisco Bay Area’s leading performing organizations including the San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, and Symphony Silicon Valley. The aim of the group is to present both large-scale symphonic brass ensemble works and compositions for smaller combinations of players in acoustics which complement the wonderful sound of brass. In addition, The Bay Brass programs concerts of remarkable diversity, combining the traditional brass repertory with jazz and other contemporary styles, including the works of some of today’s most influential composers.
As a true cooperative, The Bay Brass has no principal players and no music director — only a core of musicians who share equally in all of the organizational and musical responsibilities of the group. Members of the ensemble also conduct, arrange, and compose, allowing for maximum musical growth and enjoyment for each member. Another important priority is the commissioning of new works in an effort to expand and enhance the brass repertory.
Since its inception, The Bay Brass has performed many concerts in the Bay Area including those at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, Davies Symphony Hall, the University of California — Berkeley, Stanford’s Memorial Church and the Menlo School. The group has premiered numerous new works for brass including, most recently, the West Coast Premiere of Michael Tilson Thomas‘ Street Song with the composer conducting. The Bay Brass was also one of the featured performing groups at the 1996 International BrassFest held in Long Beach, CA. and has been presented on radio broadcasts throughout the Bay Area.