The University of Central Arkansas will be host to a week of incredible activity for brass musicians. Wednesday, March 31 through Sunday, April 4 marks the collaboration of artists-in-residence, The Center City Brass Quintet. All events will be held in the Snow Fine Arts Center of UCA, and all events are free unless otherwise noted.
Center City is spending three full days on the UCA campus, teaching and performing in various settings. Events during the residency include a Quintet Clinic at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 31, in the Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall. Center City will work with three UCA student brass quintets and offer advice and coaching to the groups.
A concert scheduled for Thursday, April 1, in the Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall, will show the efforts of the student quintets as they perform their primary pieces for the semester. All 3 groups will join Center City for an arrangement of Wagner’s Overture to Tannh?user for the finale. At other times during the week Center City will be holding open rehearsals, teaching UCA students and holding discussions.
As part of the residency, a special program geared to the public will take place on Friday, April 2: Brass Quintet Mini-Workshop.
Anyone and everyone who is interested in chamber brass music is welcome to take advantage of the following schedule of free events:
12 p.m. – Registration
12 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Exhibits open
1 p.m. – Arkansas High School Honors Brass Choir Rehearsal
2 p.m. – CCBQ Session ? master classes held for each instrument (trumpet, French horn, trombone/euphonium, tuba)
3:30 p.m. – CCBQ Open Forum – discussion, Q&A
4:30 p.m. – Arkansas High School Honors Brass Quintet dress rehearsal
5 p.m. – Dinner (on your own)
7:30 p.m. – Concert with the Arkansas High School Honors Brass Choir and Center City Brass Quintet – Center Stage Theater
The Arkansas High School Honors Brass Quintet will be made up of top students recommended by their band directors, and will have the opportunity to explore brass choir music with directors Denis Winter and Brent Shires, faculty at UCA.
Other events taking place during the weekend include a Trombone Extravaganza featuring artist Steve Witser, and the 1st Annual Mid-South Horn Workshop featuring Richard King.
A regional workshop of the International Horn Society, it serves primarily the states of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Professionals, amateurs, and students of all ages are welcome to attend.
Friday’s events are included in the schedule, and concerts by professionals in the region will take place Saturday. Also part of this event are competitions, exhibits, and special lectures and presentations. Presentations include a demonstration of modern solos for the natural horn; Tai Chi for musicians; horn maintenance; and good tuning, as well as a chance to play simple group works for horn Sunday morning as a warm-up. The event concludes with a concert of horn ensemble music Sunday at 10:45 am.
The capstone event of the Mid-South Horn Workshop is a concert given by Richard King, principal hornist of the famous Cleveland Orchestra at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, April 3, in Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall. UCA piano faculty Terrie Shires will accompany King.
Registration at the door for the Mid-South Horn Workshop is set at $55 for full-time students; $50 for members of the International Horn Society; $45 for IHS members who are full-time students; and $60 for the general public. Non-horn-players may pay only $20. Those who are intertested in attending Saturday evening’s recital by Richard King only will pay $10 at the door.
The Trombone Extravaganza takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Center Stage Theater. Trombonists of all ages are welcome to bring their instruments for a group warm-up at 8:30. A master class takes place at 9:30 a.m. with Steve Witser, acting principal trombonist of the Cleveland Orchestra, with a lecture given at 10 a.m. The final event is a recital at 11:30 a.m. given by Mr. Witser, with UCA piano faculty Carl Anthony accompanying. No admission fee is required to attend or participate.
Any questions can be directed to Brent Shires at (501) 450-5768. Funding is provided for the events by C. G. Conn Company, the UCA Artist-in-Residence Program of the College of Fine Arts and Communications, and the UCA Department of Music.
