Houston Brass Band PRESS RELEASE
The Houston Brass Band (HBB) has been a vital part of the cultural landscape in Houston for 25 years. Last year alone the Houston Brass Band reached an estimated 6,025 members of the Houston community. This year will be celebrated as the Silver Anniversary Season through special performances and events. Among highlights of the events planned for this season is an October performance in Round Top, Texas featuring Schilke Music performing artist Morris Northcutt. HBB will perform a joint concert in November with the Galveston Symphony Orchestra. This event will include a world premiere of “Crossings,” a new work celebrating the bicentennial of Norwegian immigration to America. The piece by Rodney Newton was originally commissioned by Russell Gray in 2005 and titled, “Longships.” Learning of the special occasion of our 2025 celebration, Rodney revised and retitled the piece. The band will also perform in March, in Dallas, as a part of Texas Brass Fest. There is a 25
th Anniversary Concert in April at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Houston. HBB has commissioned a new march for the occasion from composer Dr. William Brusick. The winner of the 2024 student solo competition will also be featured.
HBB’s mission is to inspire and engage a diverse Houston audience with the unique British brass band sound. Throughout its history HBB has also supported the education of young musicians by collaborating with school music programs. HBB has engaged internationally acclaimed musicians and shared their talents with the community through performances, side by side concerts, and clinics in schools. The HBB has also awarded scholarships to student musicians through the annual solo competition for the past 10 years.
HBB has performed at venues and events such as POST Houston 4th of July Celebrations, Houston Public Library Family Winter Festivals, Houston Make Music Day, Houston City Lights Downtown Holiday Magic, Houston, Public Radio broadcast, Houston Turkish Festival, British Consulate of Houston events, Grand Opening of Houston’s James Driver All-Inclusive Park, British American Foundation of Texas Gala, Saint Arnold’s Brewery, No Label Brewery, and numerous churches. In 2021, the band placed 3rd in the First Section of the international Whit Friday competition, HBB has been featured on Houston Public Radio Encore Houston in July of 2022. The band was also featured in a Scottish radio broadcast, “Sounds of Brass,” in 2024. The band has performed at the Texas Band Masters Association Conference in San Antonio, TX. A photo journal of activities of the band over the past 3 seasons is available at our website: www. houstonbrassband.org under the blog menu.
HBB was awarded a grant this year from the Cullen Foundation in order to expand our outreach through performances and educational activities in the Houston area. The Mary Louise Dobson Foundation also recently awarded HBB funds to support the instrumental music programs at Wharton Senior High and Wharton Junior High schools. HBB members will provide master classes at these rural, Title 1 campuses this school year. For the past 2 years The Houston Arts Alliance has provided grant support for HBB to present free concerts in downtown Houston at the Public Library Family Winter Festival.
Click here to visit the Houston Brass Band Website