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Iowa Brass
Iowa
About
Iowa Brass is the only independent, full-time British style brass band in Iowa and is celebrating its 37th anniversary in 2023. In 1985, Don Stine, the director of the city band in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, attended a seminar on the growing brass band movement in the United States. A workshop was arranged in eastern Iowa in February of 1986. There were 34 brass and percussion musicians who attended that two-day event, which culminated in a concert at Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids. Following the clinic, regular rehearsals were held in Mt. Vernon in preparation for the 1986 NABBA Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. After a strong second place finish, Eastern Iowa Brass Band, Inc. was established as a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation. In 2018 Iowa Brass relocated to its current home in Solon, Iowa. Eastern Iowa Brass Band was put into a hiatus like most live music performance groups during the pandemic. During that time, the members envisioned a new future for brass entertainment, committed themselves to a new chapter in the life of the group and rebranded as Iowa Brass. Since 1986, Iowa Brass has been entertaining audiences throughout Iowa, the Midwest, and beyond. Iowa Brass is comprised of about 35 amateur musicians who live around the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids metro area and rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings in Solon. Iowa Brass typically performs 15-20 concerts each year featuring original works for brass band, as well as arrangements of popular, jazz, orchestral and wind band music.
Musical Director
Alexander Beamer
Alexander Beamer is the Principal Conductor of Iowa Brass. 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, he enjoys life in the Amana Colonies with his wife Jessi, three boys Oliver, Henry and Paul, and their dog Lola.
Choice Program
Sinfonietta No. 3
Etienne Crausaz
Program Notes
Sinfonietta No. 3 demonstrates Étienne Crausaz’s skill in shaping symphonic ideas within a concise and focused brass band framework. The work is driven by rhythmic energy and clearly defined motivic material, creating a strong sense of momentum from the opening. Musical ideas are passed seamlessly across the ensemble, highlighting the conversational nature of the writing and the full color palette of the brass band. Contrasting sections introduce lyricism and warmth, allowing for expressive phrasing and tonal blend before the music regains its forward drive. Crausaz’s harmonic language combines contemporary color with tonal clarity, giving the piece a modern character while remaining immediately accessible. Rather than relying on sheer scale, Sinfonietta No. 3 achieves its impact through precision, balance, and economy of material. The result is a compact yet powerful work that showcases both the technical and expressive strengths of the modern brass band.