This weekend marks the inaugural BBC Young Artist Competition. Young Brass players will be competing for the opportunity to solo with the Brass Band of Columbus at a future concert.Additionally, the event is receiving financial support from Colonial Music/Music and Arts and Conn-Selmer Corporation.

This competition will be adjudicated by three outside brass teachers from The Ohio State University and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and the event will be open to the public. The BBC is expanding its newly-established Educational Outreach Program with this event, school concerts and clinics.

 11-Apr-2008

At the recentNorth American Brass Band Championships, the Brass Band of Columbus finished third, but won over the audience with its performance of Extreme Makeover.

MD, Tim Jameson said, "We had reached out and connected with the audience....the entire band left the stage feeling that we had done what we set out to do. It was an experience that may never be equaled for most of us."

BBC will be performing Extreme Makeover a few more times before putting it back in the library and we hope to share that magic with you.

The band would also like to salute the Fountain City Brass Band who won the NABBA Championships with two fantastic performances of their own.

 2-Apr-2008

The BBC's final performance of 2007 was on New Year's Eve at the Blue jackets hockey game. Approximately 20 members of the Brass Band of Columbus performed before the game and during the 1st interval.

 31-Dec-2007

The Brass Band of Columbus is featured on the new CD "Baritones to the Fore." The CD features three solists from the UK as well as the BBC's own Diana Herak.

The three UK soloist Katrina Marzella, Helen Tyler and Rob Richardson visited the band from Nov 2006 - May 2007. This is a groundbreaking CD as never before has there there been a solo CD featuring the baritone.

Look for the CD to be available soon at BBC concerts and on the BBC website.

 30-Dec-2007

Dan King, principal cornet of the BBC, premiered a new cornet solo entitled "The Big Apple" at this year's Ohio Brass Arts Festival.  The solo, although technically very challenging, was once again played with smoothness and ease as Dan often does so well.  

The solo was written by Ben Tubb, a composition and tenor horn student at the Royal Northern College of Music, who Dan had met on one of his trips to the UK.

A clip of the recording can be heard as part of the 4barsrest podcast from the brass festival.

 24-Apr-2007

The weekend of March 31st - April 1st will mark the 22nd God and Country Concert and the First Ohio Brass Arts Festival.  The BBC will be joined by some special guest that weekend including the Pendel Brass and Singers (NJ) on both Saturday and Sunday and baritone virtuoso Helen Tyler on Sunday at the Brass Festival. Tickets are FREE and available at the door or in advance from the Salvation Army.

The God & Country concert is Downtown at the Capitol Theatre at the Verne Riffe Center at 2:30 pm on Saturday March 31st.

The Ohio Brass Arts Festival runs from 12:30pm - 6:00pm and will feature 7 bands, along with 2 ensembles and guest clinicians Helen Tyler and the BBC's own Dan King.

The Schedule is as follows: 12:30pm TBDBITL Alumni Band, 1:10pm Central Ohio Brass Band, 1:50 Pendel Brass & Singers, 2:30 Central Ohio Youth Band, 3:05 Masterclasses with Helen Tyler and Dan King, 3:50 Scioto Valley Brass & Percussion, 4:30 Brass Band of Columbus, 5:25 Brass Band of the Western Reserve. (Twisted Steel will perform during stage changes).  Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for seniors, students and NABBA members.

more information can be found at www.OhioBrassBands.com

 10-Feb-2007

As part 2 of 3 of a baritone solo CD project, Helen Tyler will be recording with the BBC in early April.

The CD will feature solos written specifically for the often neglected baritone performed by Rob Richardson (YBS Band), Helen Tyler (Fodens; pictured left), Katrina Marzella (Leylan) and the BBC's own (Diana Herak).

Expected release date is late June.  You can see Helen perform with the BBC at the Ohio Brass Arts Festival on April 1st.

 10-Feb-2007

At Tuesday, September 4th's rehearsal Brian Stevens was officially named the Assistant Director of the Brass Band of Columbus, a vacancy that had not been filled since last February.

Brian is a 1988 graduate of the Ohio State University. While at Ohio State, he performed with the Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Choir and Men’s Glee Club.

Brian has taught with the Reynoldsburg City Schools since 1993, and in that time, he has posted Superior Ratings with the Freshman, Concert, Symphonic, and Marching Bands.

In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Brian is a frequent adjudicator with the Ohio Music Education Association and music arranger for several area bands including the Ohio State University Spring Marching Band and the Brass Band of Columbus.

4-Oct-2006

The Brass Band of Columbus was represented by five of their women players in the Athena Brass Band at the recent International Women's Brass Conference at Illinois State University.  

The Athena Brass Band was formed in 2004 and is made up of many of the finest female brass band players in the United States.  Their Musical Director is Anita Cocker Hunt from the Cincinnati Brass Band.

This year's members included (from left to right) baritone players Beth Natali and Diana Herak, tenor horn soloist Lisa Galvin, tenor horn Christine Fowkes and cornet Stephanie Smith. The Brass Band of Columbus has one of the largest contingents in the Athena Brass Band.

4-July-2006

The Brass Band of Columbus of Columbus has just released its new CD "Gifted Leadership."  The CD is a tribute to BBC founder and former director Paul Droste.

The CD contains 23 marches many of which have not been recorded often by a brass band.  The CD also contains an extensive booklet with program notes for each of the marches and is an excellent reference.

21-May-2006

The Brass Band of Columbus presents our next public performance Sunday, May 21st at the beautiful Southern Theater in Downtown Columbus.  Concert time for this ticketed event will be 2:00 PM.

The theme of the concert will be “Heroes and Adventures”.  We will be taking a musical look at various real and fictional heroes as well as playing musical examples that illustrate some of life’s adventures. Heroes such as Superman, Oscar Schindler, and military service personnel will be spotlighted.  Adventures such as the circus, the theater, and space travel will also be explored in a musical context.

Joining us on stage will be vocal soloist and local television personality Cabot Rea of NBC4 and WB53.  In addition to his work in broadcasting, Cabot is familiar as a singer and actor to Central Ohio audiences, having appeared at the Palace, Capital and Southern Theaters.  Cabot will sing three numbers and provide narration on another.

Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.  A special group rate of $5 per ticket is also available for groups of ten or more.  Tickets can be obtained through Ticketmaster or by contacting any band member.  Group sales are only through band members.

5-May-2006

The Brass Band of Columbus achieved their unprecedented 10th North American Brass Band Championship victory this past weekend.

The band competed in the Championship Section (the highest section) at the annual NABBA Championships.  This years event was held at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Indiana (just across the Ohio River from Louisville).

The band set the standard (playing off the #1 draw) by playing two major works: Quintessence (Redhead) and the set test piece, Of Men and Mountains(Gregson).

Six other Championship section bands followed and although they came close (very close as the BBC finished 0.2 points out of 300 ahead of the 2nd place band and 0.4 points ahead of the 3rd place band), nobody could top them.

2-Apr-2006

Also, as part of the weekend at the North American Brass Band Championships, was the solo and ensemble contest.  

Years ending in"6" seem to be lucky for Diana as she won the Low Brass Slow Melody contest for the second time (the other being in 1996).  In order to accomplish this feat Diana had to outperform 24 other contestants in this, the largest soloist category.

Diana once again played a beautiful rendition of the Pete Meechan piece "Alu" that was commissioned by her husband, Patrick, for their 10th anniversary.

2-Apr-2006

There was a new look in the BBC bass section at their concert at Linworth UMC this past Sunday...sort of.  John Huffman returned to the BBC on EEb Bass (a position he held from 1985-1994).

Also joining him in a move from the baritone section is Pat Herak. Both are looking forward to preparing for the upcoming North American Brass Band Championships.

8-Mar-2006

The Brass Band of Columbus finished their recording sessions of their new CD.  The CD will be entitled "Gifted Leadership" as a tribute to former director Paul Droste.

The CD will contain over 20 marches, some of which are not well known, as well as many favorites including: 'El Capitan March', 'God and Country', 'Hail to the Spirit of Liberty', 'The Melody Shop', 'The Stars and Stripes Forever' and of course the title track 'Gifted Leadership'

The CD is expected to be released mid-April at the God & Country Concert.

Click on the thumbnail to the left to view images from the recording sessions.

19-Dec-2005

The Brass Band of Columbus won website of the month for November 2005 from the online Brass Band Forum www.themouthpiece.com .

As part of being the monthly winner the BBC receives an entry in the tMP WWW Site of the Month Roll Call, a one month listing on tMP Forum Home page and a one month promotional banner on tMP.

Additionally, the BBC is now up for the 2005 Website of the year.  Once you have registered at www.themouthpiece.com, you can vote for the BBC at the following link http://www.themouthpiece.com/vb/showthread.php?t=17981.

1-Dec-2005

On Sunday, December 4th 2005 the Brass Band of Columbus will be premiering a Pete Meechan piece entitled "Alu" as part of their concert atAscension Lutheran Church.

Pete is one of the up and coming brass band composers in England and is currently the Young Composer in Residence for the #1 World Ranked Black Dyke Brass Band.

The piece is a baritone solo commissioned for Diana Herak by her husband, fellow BBC baritone, Patrick for their 10th anniversary.  Appropriately the premiere takes place at the same church they were married at 10 years earlier and where the BBC played at their wedding.

Pete sends his greetings and says, "It was a pleasure to write this solo for Diana, and my only regret is that I'm not able to make it over to the States for the premiere. However, I know both Pat and Diana from their time in the UK, and know that it will be a special performance."

1-Dec-2005

We hope you enjoy the new format of "BBC Online." Please take time to get to know our members [ here ], check out our BBC merchandise [ here ] and find out about our new ways you can help the band [ here ].

4-Oct-2005

On Sunday, November 20, 2005 at 7:00 p.m., the BBC will be performing as part of an exclusive event called, A Classical Affair, held at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing.  This exclusive event will feature live music, wine-tasting and shopping while raising funds for nonprofit arts organizations in Central Ohio, including the BBC and the Ohio Citizens for the Arts Foundation.  Please join us to take advantage of the best discounts of the year at over 95 stores throughout Tuttle and while you shop, sample fine Ohio wines while enjoying entertainment around every corner from some of Columbus’ premier musical ensembles.

The event is scheduled from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. and admission is just $5.00 per person at the door.  However, you can support the BBC directly by purchasing your $5.00 ticket in advance from any BBC band member.  The BBC will retain the profit on all advance sale tickets.  Visit www.wosu.org soon for detailed event information and an up-to-date listing of discounts and specials.

For more information about the event, visit:  http://www.shoptuttlecrossing.com/static/doc_037150.jsp

17-Oct-2005

This award is presented annually by the band to an individual or group who exemplifies what Dr. Droste is and what he has done for the band as a whole and for the individuals in the band.  The inaugural Founder’s Award was presented last May, quite appropriately, to Dr. Paul Droste.  Our most recent recipient, Paul Bierley, is a founding member of the Brass Band of Columbus and was part of the band for nearly fifteen years.  He is an outstanding musician, a scholar, a researcher and a world-famous author.  He has shown great leadership and dedication. 

The plaque reads: "The Brass Band of Columbus presents The Dr. Paul E. Droste Founder’s Award to Paul E. Bierley who, by nature of his MUSICIANSHIP, CHARACTER and DEDICATION, contributed immeasurably to the tradition of excellence and ongoing success of the Brass Band of Columbus." 

The BBC also confers to Paul E. Bierley the honor of Emeritus Membership.

2-Oct-2005