Annual Holiday Croissant Concert
with Today's Brass Quintet
The Spirit of the Season
Saturday, December 3rd @ 11:00 AM
“…Today’s Brass Quintet elicits a favorable comparison to that of the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble … both dazzle the listener … both stand as textbook examples of balance and blend.”
~International Trumpet Guild Journal
Kerrytown Concert House is delighted to continue its annual holiday tradition featuring holiday brass arrangements with Today’s Brass Quintet. Enjoy festive brass music spanning four centuries, from Renaissance to Jazz, including holiday favorites with a few surprises thrown in. Following the concert is an opportunity to chat with the artists while enjoying coffee and croissants.
About the ensemble: Today’s Brass Quintet (TBQ) enjoys a reputation as one of the Midwest’s finest artistic ensembles. Since its inception in 1983, TBQ has concertized at a wide variety of festive and educational events. TBQ programs original arrangements from a full spectrum of styles, ranging from the sparkling baroque masterpieces of Bach and Pachelbel to the toe-tapping pleasures of Sousa, Gershwin and Ellington. Interesting commentary familiarizes the audience with the composers and their music, making for delightful entertainment sure to please all ages.
KCH’s Classical Salon presentations are generously supported in part by Genre Underwriters, Maurice & Linda Binkow.
COVID-19 Safety Policy for Indoor Concerts
- Masks are strongly encouraged and available as needed.
- Please do not attend a performance if you are feeling ill or have any symptoms of COVID-19.
Joseph DeMarsh, tuba, grew up in suburban Detroit and holds degrees in music education and tuba performance from the University of Michigan School of Music. He has been Principal Tuba with the Flint Symphony Orchestra since 1987 and also performs with the Toledo Concert Band as section leader and soloist. Mr. DeMarsh recently retired from the Ann Arbor Public Schools, where he taught music since 1987, most recently as orchestra director at Tappan Middle School.
Brian Robson, trombonist, earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the University of Michigan. He has performed with the Detroit Symphony, the Toledo Symphony, the Detroit Concert Band, the Toledo Concert Band, the Michigan Opera Theater Orchestra and the Detroit Chamber Winds. Mr. Robson has been a member of the faculty of Concordia College, Ann Arbor and the University of Toledo. He is currently Principal Trombone of the Motor City Symphony Orchestra and an Information Technology manager at the University of Michigan.
A
lan Taplin, horn, grew up in Livonia, Michigan. He has been a member of the Toledo Symphony’s horn section and brass quintet since 1981. He has been an arranger for the Symphony since 1980. Alan has performed with the Detroit Symphony, Louisville Orchestra and the Des Moines Metro Opera. Very active as a freelance/chamber musician in Ohio and Michigan, he has recorded commercially in Detroit, Chicago and Toledo. Mr. Taplin has a Bachelor and Masters degree from the University of Michigan in horn performance. He studied with Louis Stout and Harry Berv. He has served on the faculties of Olivet College, Concordia College, Heidelberg College, the University of Toledo and Hillsdale College.
Hailing from Birmingham, Michigan, Derek Lockhart recently rejoined Today’s Brass Quintet, returning to Michigan from Florida, where he performed as Acting-Principal Trumpet with the Sarasota Orchestra. He has held the position of Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed as Assistant Principal Trumpet with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. While under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, he performed worldwide as a member of the New World Symphony. He tours and performs as a member of the Empire Brass and is a member of The Motor City Brass Quintet. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Mr. Lockhart enjoys spending his summer months in Topeka, Kansas and Boulder, Colorado performing with the Sunflower and Colorado Music Festivals.
Clark Irwin is a Detroit-based trumpet player with the Bijou Orchestra and the River Raisin Ragtime Revue. He also performs as principal trumpet in the Hollywood Festival Orchestra doing tours in Japan and Asia. Clark performs with Mannheim Steamroller frequently during the holidays, and has performed with such groups as the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, New World Symphony, Tanglewood Festival Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group, Bellingham Festival Orchestra, and Michigan Opera theater to name a few. Clark graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy, and holds a B.M. in Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan, a M.M. from University of Southern California, and attended the Cleveland Institute of Music for advanced studies in trumpet. Clark’s notable teachers and influences include Armando Ghitalla, Boyde Hood, Michael Sax and John Lindenau.
