The Washington Symphonic Brass is an American professional modern brass ensemble, and a not-for-profit 501- (c)(3) arts organization. The ensemble performs in the Washington, DC, [1] [2] Maryland, [3] and Northern Virginia areas. The WSB presents live concerts, produces commercial recordings, [4] [5] and educates young brass and percussion musicians. The WSB is the Ensemble-in-Residence at George Mason University and is a collaborative artist with the National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Fairfax Choral Society, and the Amadeus Orchestra.
The Washington Symphonic Brass was founded in 1993 by former National Symphony Orchestra trombonist Milton Stevens and trumpeter/arranger Phil Snedecor. [6] It is incorporated in the state of Maryland. [7]
The ensemble performs custom arrangements written by Phil Snedecor for large brass ensemble and percussion (four trumpets, four horns, four trombones, tuba, timpani, and percussion instruments), [8] and plays both classical and modern symphonic music.
The WSB was presented with a Washington Area Music Award for recording excellence.
In 2012, the WSB's CD, The Edge, featured four of Phil Snedecor's arrangements of the music of Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Copland, and Berlioz.
In 2015, the WSB performed a composition by John Henderson at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle during a visit by Pope Francis. [9]
Frederik Reesen Magle is a Danish composer, concert organist, and pianist. He writes contemporary classical music as well as fusion of classical music and other genres. His compositions include orchestral works, cantatas, chamber music, and solo works, including several compositions commissioned by the Danish royal family. Magle has gained a reputation as an organ virtuoso, and as a composer and performing artist who does not refrain from venturing into more experimental projects – often with improvisation – bordering jazz, electronica, and other non-classical genres.
Václav Nelhýbel was a Czech American composer, mainly of works for student performers.
Walter Sinclair Hartley was an American composer of contemporary classical music.
Leo Salkeld Sowerby was an American composer and church musician. He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 1946 and was often called the “Dean of American church music” in the early to mid 20th century.
David Sartor is an American composer, conductor, and educator, and is the founder and music director of the Parthenon Chamber Orchestra.
Ronald Jack Nelson is an American composer of both classical and popular music and a retired music educator.
Patrick Larley is a British composer.
Allan Gilliland is a contemporary Canadian composer.
Frigyes Hidas was a Hungarian composer.
David C. Sampson is an American contemporary classical composer.
Eric Thomas Knechtges, DM is an American composer. He has written works for a wide variety of performing mediums including: concert band, orchestra, a cappella choir, and chamber ensembles.
John Rutter's Gloria is a musical setting of parts of the Latin Gloria. He composed it in 1974 on a commission from Mel Olson, and conducted the premiere in Omaha, Nebraska. He structured the text in three movements and scored it for choir, brass, percussion and organ, with an alternative version for choir and orchestra. It was published in 1976 by Oxford University Press.
Paul Smith Callaway, was a prominent American organist and choral conductor, particularly well known for his thirty-eight years at the Washington National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., between 1939–1977. A friend of Leonard Bernstein and Ned Rorem, he was also active in opera and a frequent guest conductor of the Lake George Opera Company and was the founding musical director of the Opera Society of Washington in 1956, now the renowned Washington National Opera. By the time of his death in 1995, he was acclaimed for his great influence on the musical life of the nation's capital. In 1977, Callaway was appointed an Honorary Officer of The Order of the British Empire (OBE) and invested by Ambassador Peter Jay on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II.
Gary Kulesha is a Canadian composer, pianist, conductor, and educator. Since 1995, he has been Composer Advisor to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has been Composer-in-Residence with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (1988–1992) and the Canadian Opera Company (1993–1995). He was awarded the National Arts Centre Orchestra Composer Award in 2002. He currently teaches on the music faculty at the University of Toronto.
The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a major choral organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1965 by Norman Scribner, it is regarded as one of the premier symphonic choruses in the United States. The Choral Arts Society of Washington consists of three vocal ensembles; the Choral Arts Chorus, the Choral Arts Chamber Singers, and the Choral Arts Youth Choir.
J. Kevin Waters S.J. is a Jesuit priest, composer, educator, and retired Academic Dean (Emeritus) of the College of Arts and Sciences of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.
Thierry Joseph-Louis Escaich is a French organist and composer.
Kerry Turner is an American composer and horn player. Turner is a recognized name in the horn and brass industry. Turner’s major ensembles with whom he performs include the American Horn Quartet, the Virtuoso Horn Duo, and the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. Turner has performed internationally as a soloist and clinician. Turner also sings tenor in a semi-professional octet.
Miloš Bok is a Czech composer, conductor, pianist, organist, choirmaster and music educator.