Empire Brass

Empire Brass
Empire Brass performing in 2006
Background information
Origin	Massachusetts, U.S.
Years active	1971–present
Members	Derek Lockhart Eric Berlin Victor Sungarian Greg Spiridopoulos Kenneth Amis
Past members	Mark Hetzler Luiz Garcia Eric Ruske Rolf Smedvig Charles Lewis Gregory Miller David Ohanian Mark H. Lawrence Scott A. Hartman Michelle Perry Sam Pilafian Martin Hackleman Jeffrey Curnow Norman Bolter Lawrence Isaacson Douglas Wright Timothy Morrison Andrew Pelletier
Website	www.empirebrass.com

Empire Brass is a brass quintet from the United States. The group was founded in 1971. The original members met at Tanglewood Music Center (in Lenox, Massachusetts) in 1970. ^[1]

Description and history

The quintet chose its name after performing in New York City. ^[1] (New York is the Empire State.) They continue to tour regularly in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have been the Faculty Quintet-in-Residence at Boston University since 1976. ^[2]

The Empire Brass have appeared on Good Morning America , Today Show and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood . ^[3] They also make joint concert appearances with organist Douglas Major. ^[4]

From 1977 to 1978, and again from 2001 to 2003, they performed with the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, in the Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park (NY), summer series. ^[5]

Members

As of May 2015, its members include:

• Derek Lockhart, trumpet
• Eric Berlin, trumpet
• Victor Sungarian, French horn
• Greg Spiridopoulos, trombone
• Kenneth Amis, tuba

Previous members include:

• Rolf Smedvig, trumpet, founder; died April 27, 2015 ^[1]
• Sam Pilafian, tuba, founder; died April 5, 2019. ^[6]

Discography

• Russian Brass (1977)
• Baroque Brass (1977)
• Empire Brass Quintet and Friends - American Brass Band Journal (1978)
• Renaissance Brass (1979)
• Broadway Brass (1980)
• Empire Brass Quintet (Hovhaness, Hindemith, Bohme, Dvorak) (1980)
• The Empire Brass Plays Annie (1981)
• Pachelbel: Kanon & Other Baroque Favorites (1982)
• A Bach Festival (1986)
• Joy to the World, Music of Christmas (1988)
• Empire Brass plays Bernstein, Gershwin & Tilson Thomas (1988)
• Fireworks (1988)
• Class Brass (1989)
• Music of Gabrieli (1989)
• Music for Organ, Brass & Percussion (1990)
• Royal Brass: Music from Renaissance & Baroque (1990)
• Braggin' in Brass (1991)
• Romantic Brass (1992)
• On Broadway (1992)
• Class Brass - On the Edge (1993)
• Mozart for Brass (1993)
• Passage (1994)
• The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas (1996)
• King's Court and Celtic Fair (1996)
• Greatest Hits (1997)
• Class Brass: Firedance (1999)
• The Glory of Gabrieli (2002)
• Baroque Music for Brass and Organ (2003)
• A Bach Festival for Brass & Organ (2005)

References

1. "Rolf Smedvig, 62; virtuoso trumpeter who cofounded renowned brass quintet". Boston Globe . May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
2. Wise, Brian (April 28, 2015). "Rolf Smedvig, Trumpeter Who Founded Empire Brass, Dies at 63". WQXR-FM . Retrieved May 8, 2015. The quintet was a co-winner of the Naumberg Chamber Music Award in 1976 and had also begun a long-term residency at Boston University.
3. Woodstra, Chris; Brennan, Gerald; Schrott, Allen (2005). All Music Guide to Classical Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 417. ISBN   9780879308650.
4. Acton, Nancy (April 21, 2006). "Major weekend treat for organ music lovers". The Royal Gazette . Retrieved May 8, 2015.
5. "Notable Events and Performers". Naumburg Orchestral Concerts. Retrieved 2025-03-20.
6. Sandomir, Richard (April 12, 2019). "Sam Pilafian, Tuba Maestro of Multiple Genres, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• AllMusic