May 7, 2023 | Iowa Brass

Iowa Brass

YOUNG ARTIST SHOWCASE

May 7, 2023 @ 4pm

Solon Community Center Auditorium

PROGRAM

*Fantasy of Joy, Fredrick Schjelderup

*Brilliante, Peter Graham
Todd Bransky and David Lang, Euphonium duet

*March - Grunder Stine, Marcus Venables
Dedicated to Don and Judy Stine

Concerto for Trumpet and Piano, Alexander Arutunian
Evan Wahlstrom, Trumpet. Carrie Proctor, Accompanist

The Magnificent Seven, Elmer Bernstein, arr. Alan Fernie

** Intermission **

Melody Shop, Karl King, arr. Peter Smalley

*O Magnum Mysterium, Morten Lauridsen, arr. Phillip Littlemore

Centennial Horizon, Kevin McKee
Emma Cryer, Trumpet. Jason Lee, Accompanist

I. Aspen Groove

Interlude - Alpenglow
II. Roaring Gunnison

West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein, arr.

*Variations on 'Laudate Dominum', Edward Gregson

* = Performing at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference

Iowa Brass Personnel

Music Director

Alexander Beamer has been the Principal Conductor of Iowa Brass since 2013, making this his 10 year anniversary with the group. Throughout his tenure, the band has performed at numerous competitions claiming such prizes as Best March and 2nd place at the Gateway Brass Band festival. Alex has participated in numerous conducting competitions throughout Europe and in 2016 received a finalist award at the Brass Band conducting competition in Manchester, England.

Mr. Beamer completed a master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM) and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Messiah College. His conducting teachers include Dr. Jorge Perez-Gomez, Dr. Timothy Dixon, and Dr. Bradley Genevro. He has studied percussion with Steve Fidyk, Chris Rose, Doug Cardwell and David Knott. Alex has also participated in many master classes and clinics with some of the nation’s top conductors, such as Mallory Thompson, Eugene Corporon, Dennis Fisher, and Col. Timothy Holton.

Alex is the Vice President of School Music Services at West Music. During his down time, Alex enjoys life in the Amana Colonies with his wife Jessi, 3 boys Oliver, Henry and Paul, and their dog Lola.

Eb Soprano Cornet

Matt Hartmann

Cornet

Paul Waech

Evan Fowler

Jeff Fountain

Steve Stickney

Repiano Cornet

Lee Stickney

2nd Cornet

Brian Redington

Beth Villhauer

3rd Cornet

Karla Beckman

Steve Kenny

Flugelhorn

Dan Davies

Tenor Horn
Peter Laird
Reid Barlow
Cliff Somers
Ray Colony
Bob Upmeyer

Trombone
Kolbe Schnoebelen
Ross Thedens
Paul McNally
Lee Tippe

Bass Trombone

Paul Upmeyer

Baritone
Ryan Hesseltine
Joseph Horne

Euphonium

Todd Bransky

David Lang

Eb Tuba

Chris Bird

John Reyna

Bb Tuba

Bob Driggs

Steve Schomberg

Percussion

Jenn Boyens

Spencer Kruse

Dave Parsons

Taylor Wells

Merchandise

Becky Bunting

SOLOISTS

2023 Young Artist Competition

COLLEGIATE DIVISION WINNER
Emma Cryer - Trumpet
University of Iowa

A graduate of Cedar Falls High School, Emma performed in the Iowa All-State Music Festival all four years of high school and was a featured soloist during her junior year. She also played in the Iowa High School All-State Jazz Band in 2018. During junior high and high school, Emma studied trumpet with Dwayne Johnson, Laura Englehardt, Kyle Englehardt, Gerald Ramsey, and Dr. Randy Grabowski.

As a college student, Emma has studied with Michael Gause and Amy Schendel. She has been a member of the following ensembles: Johnson County Landmark Jazz Band, Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Band, Brass Quintet, Pit Orchestra, and the Hawkeye Marching Band. Her collegiate accolades include attending NTC 2021, ITG 2023, and the Raphael Méndez Brass Institute.

Emma has been a member of the Iowa Women's Jazz Orchestra since 2021, and performs with multiple gigging groups, including the Blake Shaw Big(ish) Band. Her plans for the future include attending graduate school majoring in Trumpet Performance with the hopes of continuing to perform on a professional level and to become a university professor.

2023 Young Artist Competition
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION WINNER
Evan Wahlstrom - Trumpet
Marion High School

Evan Wahlstrom is a senior at Marion High School in Marion, Iowa. His high school band director is Logan Vanderweil. He studies trumpet with Denny Hodge.

Evan was a member of the following All-State ensembles:

All state Band 2021 trumpet 1
All state Orchestra 2022 trumpet 1
Jazz all state alternate 2021
Jazz all state trumpet 2022
Jazz all state trumpet 2023
Outstanding performance award IHSMA Solo/Ensemble Festival 2022

Evan wants to continue his musical journey whether it be teaching, performance, or both! Evan plans to attend the University of Northern Iowa for music education.

David Lang

David Lang retired from teaching at Independence High School in 2021. During his 32 year career his ensembles received honors in Concert Band, Jazz Band and Marching Band: 9 appearances at the Iowa Bandmasters Conference; 9 Iowa Jazz Championship 1st place finishes; BOA Regional Marching Band Champion, and 2 appearances a BOA Grand National Marching Band Championships.

David is a frequent guest soloist with area community bands, colleges and high schools. While studying at the University of Iowa, he performed as a guest soloist with all three School of Music Concert Bands. He was the first place winner in the Leonard Falcone International Baritone Horn Competition and was granted a performance with the Michigan State Symphonic Band. He was also the Grand Prize Winner in the Des Moines Symphony Young Artist Competition and performed a Concerto with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. He has toured Europe with The Iowa’s Ambassadors of Music as a low brass instructor and euphonium soloist ten times.

David has won many education awards including: NEA and ISEA Awards for Excellence in Teaching; KCRG A+ for Education Award; KGAN Golden Apple Award; IBA & NEIBA Karl King Distinguished Service Award - Active; NEIBA Philip Sehman Excellence in Teaching Award; Colts Drum & Bugle Corps Hall of Fame, and Independence Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year.

Todd Bransky

Todd Bransky has been a distinguished and dedicated member of the Iowa Brass family for over three decades. Since joining in 1988, Todd's musicianship has been showcased on all eight of the band's compact disc recordings, and he was featured as a soloist on their latest CD, "Reverence."

In 2022, Todd embarked on an international tour as a baritone player with the Mississippi River Brass Band, performing in Germany and the Czech Republic, and previously toured Italy and Sicily with the renowned Sicilian Band of Chicago. Todd has been actively involved in the leadership of Iowa Brass, having served in nearly all positions on the band's Board of Directors. He founded the band's Young Artists Competition in 2011 and is currently directing the band's eagerly anticipated new annual music festival, the "Wurst Brass Festival", slated for June 2023 in the Amana Colonies.

Todd's passion for music extends beyond Iowa Brass, as he actively participates in other musical groups as well. He plays euphonium in the DTKK Polka Band, trombone in the Cedar Rapids Big Band - CR Jazz, and regularly substitutes for the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band. Todd is also a frequent euphonium soloist in his church and is a member of their choir and handbell choir. Todd is a System Integration Specialist and corporate trainer, working in the IT Department of Folience in Cedar Rapids for over 24 years.

HISTORY

Iowa Brass was founded in 1986 and is the Iowa's only British style brass band. The brass and percussion members perform from a repertoire that features original works for brass band as well as arrangements of popular, jazz, orchestral and wind band music. Iowa Brass evolved from a brass ensemble that was part of the Mt. Vernon city band directed by Don Stine and was formerly known as Eastern Iowa Brass Band.

SUPPORT

You can help support Iowa Brass by becoming a Sponsor for an entire season! When you become a Sponsor, you help the band: Purchase music, percussion, and specialized brass instruments, maintain a professional conductor, and support transportation to contests and performances.

What are the sponsorship options?

Chair/Musician Sponsor: $100
Conductor Sponsor: $150
Maestro Level Sponsor: $350

In addition to your name being listed in each Iowa Brass concert program under the name of the chair/musician you choose to sponsor, benefits include:

Chair/Musician sponsors have the opportunity to announce a piece from the stage.
Conductor sponsors will work with our conductor to select a piece for us to perform.
Maestro Level sponsors will be able to conduct the band at one of our performances!

Since we are a non-profit organization, your contribution is tax-deductible.

Click HERE to become a Sponsor!

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We would like to thank our sponsors and donors. We could not continue to make music without you!