The Atlantic Brass Quintet closes out the 22nd annual International Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar with an eclectic program featuring the world premiere of Voices in Da Fan composed by ABQ trumpet player Andrew Sorg. Their new CD Crossover is available through Summit Records, Amazon, Google Play and iTunes.
Andrew Sorg and Thomas Bergeron, trumpets
Seth Orgel, horn
Tim Albright, trombone
John Manning, tuba
Widely acclaimed as one of the world’s finest brass ensembles, the Atlantic Brass Quintet has been heard in 48 of the United States and more than a dozen countries across four continents, performing a unique repertory spanning Praetorius, Monteverdi, and Bach; Etler, Stravinsky, Rands; and brass music from the streets of Brazil, Cuba, the Balkans, and New Orleans. Winner of six international chamber music competitions, the Quintet’s distinctive sound, impeccable ensemble, stunning virtuosity, and warm, inviting stage presence have won praise from scores of critics.
Founded in 1985, the Atlantic Brass Quintet launched its career with a phenomenal string of competition victories over a period of two years. Grand prizes include the Coleman Chamber Music Competition, Carmel Chamber Music Society Competition, the Shoreline Alliance Chamber Music Competition, the Summit Brass First International Brass Ensemble Competition, and the Rafael Mendez International Brass Quintet Competition. Following these remarkable achievements, the ABQ was honored by Musical America by being named “Young Artists of 1988”. In May 1992, by unanimous decision, the Quintet won the “Premiere Prix” at the International Brass Competition of Narbonne, France, recognized worldwide as the preeminent competition of its kind.
Highlights in the Quintet’s busy concert career include the premiere performance and recording of Symphony No. 3; Quintet Matinee by Kevin M. Walczyk as winner of the Sackler Prize in composition, as well as performances all across the United States from Idaho to Massachusetts.
The ABQ has been the resident brass quintet of Boston University, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and the Boston Conservatory. The popular Atlantic Brass Quintet International Summer Seminar, established in 1993, now at Northeastern University, has already secured the ensemble’s legacy to the next generation of brass musicians.
The Atlantic Brass Quintet can be heard on recordings from Summit Records, Mark Classics, Musical Heritage Society, Solstice, and Crystal labels.
2014 International Brass Quintet Seminar
The Northeastern Center for the Arts welcomes the International Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar to our campus this summer. Since 1993, the Atlantic Brass Quintet has been dedicated to training future generations of brass musicians from around the world. In 2004, Triton Brass joined the faculty of this two-week-long program designed to educate, inform, and develop brass players’ advanced musicality, performance technique, and collaborative skills.
The daily schedule consists of rigorous rehearsals, coachings, master-classes, and plug-ins. Students attending the seminar will have the unique opportunity to work with music industry students and members of Green Line Records in the Snell Library Audio Studios. This year’s featured guest artist is Sam Pilafian, tuba faculty at University of Miami and founding member of the Empire Brass Quintet. Mr. Pilafian will lead a masterclass and will work with each of the student quintets as well as the Atlantic Brass Quintet in an open rehearsal at the Fenway Center.
Five public recitals will be held in the Fenway Center, 77 St. Stephen St and will feature performances of new music by the Atlantic Brass Quintet, Triton Brass Quintet and the student quintets. Additionally, arrangements for large brass ensemble created especially for this seminar will be featured on a large brass ensemble concert followed by a jazz jam session. Members of the greater Northeastern community are invited to attend these free concerts and meet with the performers afterwards.