Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass

The 2009-2010 Season marked the inaugural year for the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass (MFYB). The Youth brass band will remain “under construction” throughout this season.  This allows more young musicians to become involved in an exciting and vibrant art form.  Student musicians in the current grade ranged from ages 13 to 17.  All of the low brass musicians are playing treble clef.  This is a unique feature of the brass band.  Cornet/trumpet players are rotated on parts to preserve their embouchures.  The most gifted cornet players are given the opportunity to perform on soprano e-flat cornet and flugelhorn.

Under the direction of Dr. Walter Rich, MFYB will performed four concerts, featuring many of the members as soloists.  The student group is intended to be a training group for professional musicianship and for virtuoso brass performance.

How do I set up an audition for the Youth group?

Auditions for the Milwaukee Festival Youth Brass (for brass and percussion players) will continue throughout the school year.

For an audition time contact:

Dawn Williams

MFYB Manager

DWilliams@mfbrass.org

Milwaukee High School Apprentice Program

The Milwaukee Festival Brass is continuing to develop it's youth brass program.  The band is offering a High School Apprentice Program (HSAP) to talented musicians who are interested in playing with the adult brass band. 

Brass bands do not use trumpets or Horn in F.  Instead, they use cornets and tenor horns.  Trumpet and horn players would be asked to switch to these instruments.  Those auditioning, horn players in particular, should check with their band directors and private teachers regarding switching back and forth.  It requires a different mouthpiece and a slightly different embouchure as well.

It is necessary to play these instruments to maintain the unique tone quality of the brass band created by all conical bore instruments.  All of the brass musicians read treble clef with the exception of the bass trombone.  Students will be coached in new fingerings and/or clef transposition.

Brass banding has a long and storied tradition in Europe.  It began in Great Britain and continues with great vigor to this day.  Bands compete and their progress is followed via Internet and band magazines where winning box scores are followed with same the enthusiasm of American League Baseball.  The Milwaukee Festival Brass competes in the US Open Brass Band Championship in Arlington, IL.  HSAP performers will not compete with MFB for this event, but are strongly encouraged to attend.

How do I set up an audition for the HSAP?

Auditions for the Milwaukee Festival Brass (for brass and percussion players) will be held throughout the school year.

For an audition time contact:

Dawn Williams

MFYB Manager

DWilliams@mfbrass.org

Audition Requirements:

Brass

Brass players should be able to play all of their major scales and a chromatic scale at quarter note equals 132 or faster and should be clean & rhythmically precise.  Brass band playing requires great facility of the fingers. The director is looking for speed and clarity.

A short etude or portion of a solo of at least WSMA Class A level should be prepared.  Solos by Herbert L. Clarke, Arthur Pryor, Herman Bellstedt and Arban are appreciated.

No accompaniment is necessary. Varying levels of sight-reading will also be included.

Percussion

Percussionists should be prepared to play all of their rudiments on snare drum at a fast and controlled tempo.  At least quarter note equals 132.  They will also be asked to play timpani and change pitch/tune the drums.  A short etude or portion of a solo of at least WSMA Class A level should be prepared for snare drum. No accompaniment is necessary.

Although mallet percussion is not required, preference will be given to those who are able to play keyboard percussion and snare.  To audition on keyboard percussion prepare all of your major scales to at least 2 octaves and more octaves will be better.  A mallet solo should be prepared as well.  If you can show off it will be to your advantage. 

Drum set is not required but preference will be given to those who are able to play set and snare.  They should be able to demonstrate a rock beat, a fast jazz swing beat and a polka or two-step beat.

Varying levels of sight-reading will be included and may include any percussion instrument that the student can play.

How do I know if I make it in?

The Milwaukee Festival Brass will offer up to 5 HSAP positions for each concert.  Selection is entirely up to the conductor based upon skill level and appropriate balance for the band.  Students will be given the opportunity to select the concerts in the season series for which they are available.  MFB hopes this will encourage and support those students who are involved in their school marching programs and school musicals.  The Milwaukee Festival Brass is not intended to take the place of a school band program.  It is intended to enhance each student’s enjoyment of playing at an extraordinarily high level.  Home school students of sufficient skill will be welcomed into the program.

HSAP Participants will be notified by letter and/or by e-mail.  MFB reserves the right to create a waiting list for this program.

Cost:

The cost of the program is $50.00 for each rehearsal schedule/concert in the series.  Two concerts would be $100.00, three $150.00 etc. This fee is paid at the beginning of the season by check made out to the Milwaukee Festival Brass.  HSAP participants may miss only one rehearsal for each concert unless prior approval has been given by the director.  The program fee is non-refundable. This does not disqualify them from future concerts.

Concert Dress:

The Milwaukee Festival Brass performs in concert black.  This means tuxes for men and all black for women.