The Nebraska Brass is dedicated to preserving the great American tradition of brass music and to providing educational programs for young musicians to improve their musical skills. The Nebraska Brass commissions new compositions for brass ensemble and also provides an outlet for professional musicians to improve their skills while presenting a professional series of concerts of the highest quality for the citizens of Nebraska.
History
Founded in 1987, the Nebraska Brass is one of the Midwests most popular brass quintets and recently celebrated its 25th Anniversary Season. Audiences young and old enjoy serious musicianship and light-hearted humor as the group presents a variety of music ranging from classical to popular, Dixieland, and jazz. The ensemble presents an annual series of five sets of concerts in Lincoln, Omaha, and a number of other Nebraska communities. In addition, the Nebraska Brass participates in the Nebraska Arts Council Touring Program, performing in over 60 Nebraska communities in the last 25 years.
In one of its most successful and visible programs, the Nebraska Brass visits elementary schools in Lincoln and Omaha each year through its Brass Goes to School educational outreach, which has taken them to nearly 100 elementary schools in the last 15 years.
The Nebraska Brass is comprised of musicians with a wealth of experience in both classical and commercial idioms. Members have performed with ensembles such as the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, Lincolns Symphony Orchestra, Nebraska Jazz Or-chestra, Dallas Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, Strategic Air Command Band (USAF) and Mannheim Steamroller. In addition, members have toured and performed throughout the United States, Australia, Europe, South America, Japan, and the Caribbean with numerous musical ensembles.
The Nebraska Brass also performs for weddings, graduation ceremonies, business and government functions, church ser-vices, public park concerts, and special events. Several such events have become annual performances for the Nebraska Brass, including the Creighton Law School Hooding Ceremony, and Christmas and Easter services at Westminster Presbyteri-an Church in Lincoln. Recent events have included collaborative efforts with vocalists, percussionists, the Lincoln Municipal Band, Abendmusik Lincoln, Omahas Soli Deo Gloria Cantorum, Hastings Symphony Orchestra, and a January 2002 perfor-mance at the Governors Arts Awards Banquet.
In addition to their busy performing schedules, members of the Nebraska Brass are experienced as educators in Nebraska and Iowa public schools and Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln.
The Nebraska Brass has released six CDs - By Request, Christmas Time, Season of Wonder, Nebraska Brass 25, A Nebraska Brass Christmas, and Blowout!
The Nebraska Brass is the 2013 recipient of a Mayors Arts Award, entitled the Richard Hay Arts Organization Award. This award recognizes an arts group that has made significant contributions to Lincolns arts community over a period of years.