UW Percussion and Brass Festival to Present Concerts April 12

The University of Wyoming Percussion and Brass Festival will present three public concerts Friday, April 12, in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts.

Geared toward secondary school students, the festival is a deep dive into all things percussion and brass. The one-day festival consists of hands-on clinics and workshops led by industry experts as well as solo and ensemble competitions, all designed to inspire and elevate the next generation of musicians.

The brass area will present two free concerts. The first concert will feature headliner Caleb Hudson, a trumpeter and longtime member of Canadian Brass, at 1 p.m. The second concert, scheduled at 4 p.m., will feature the Brass Chamber Competition winner; trombonist John Neurohr; bass trombonist Patrick Cavanaugh; the Cheyenne Symphony low brass section; and the UW Faculty Brass Quintet. Both concerts will take place in the Performing Arts recital hall.

The percussion area will give the festival’s culminating concert that will feature special guests Joe Moore III and Von Hansen performing new works for percussion ensemble. The concert will be at 5 p.m. in the Performing Arts concert hall.

Tickets for the evening concert are $10 for the public, $8 for senior citizens and $6 for students. A nominal processing fee will be charged for each ticket. To purchase tickets, visit the Performing Arts box office, call (307) 766-6666 or go online at www.tix.com/ticket-sales/uwyo/6984.

Hansen, a performer, composer, educator and multimedia artist, is assistant professor of percussion at Washburn University. His focus is on developing new music, and he specializes in works combining percussion and electronics. He has presented concerts and master classes at numerous universities and conferences. He has performed with the Wichita Symphony, the Wichita Chamber Chorale, the Wichita Grand Opera and the Topeka Symphony Orchestra.

Hansen is a member of the Great Plains Percussion Group and MapMusik, a collective of musical and visual artists presenting works that engage communities around Kansas. He also serves as president of the Kansas Percussive Arts Society.

Uniting virtuosity and musical sensitivity, Juilliard-trained trumpeter, composer, arranger and educator Hudson has carved out a unique space in the world of classical trumpet. He has performed with renowned ensembles, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Handel and Haydn Society, and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale. This spring, he released his debut solo album, “Nothing Less,” which features a distinct blend of solo trumpet, violin, cello, flute and clarinet.

Hudson serves as associate professor of trumpet at the University of Texas-Austin’s Butler School of Music. He also has taught at the University of North Texas and Colorado State University.  

Soloist, chamber musician, composer and educator Moore serves as visiting assistant professor of music at the University of Texas-Arlington. He previously served on the music faculties at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, Benedict College, the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley and the University of Texas-Brownsville.

Moore performs as a member of the Omojo Percussion Duo, the Ninkasi Percussion Group, 2x2 Percussion and Dead Resonance. He has performed at numerous music festivals and conferences. His compositions have been performed and heard across the United States, South America, Europe and Asia.

For more information, call Kathy Kirkaldie, UW Fine Arts coordinator, at (307) 766-2160 or email kirisk@uwyo.edu.