Empire Brass

Empire Brass is a brass quintet from the United States. The group was founded in 1971. The original members met at Tanglewood Music Center (in Lenox, Massachusetts) in 1970.[1]

Empire Brass
Empire Brass performing in 2006
Empire Brass performing in 2006
Background information
OriginMassachusetts, U.S.
Years active1971–present
Members
  • Derek Lockhart
  • Eric Berlin
  • Victor Sungarian
  • Greg Spiridopoulos
  • Kenneth Amis
Past members
  • Mark Hetzler
  • Luiz Garcia
  • Eric Ruske
  • Rolf Smedvig
  • Charles Lewis
  • Gregory Miller
  • David Ohanian
  • Mark H. Lawrence
  • Scott Hartman
  • Michelle Perry
  • Sam Pilafian
  • Martin Hackleman
  • Jeffrey Curnow
  • Norman Bolter
  • Lawrence Isaacson
  • Douglas Wright
  • Timothy Morrison
Websitewww.empirebrass.com

Description and history

The quintet chose its name after performing in New York City.[1] (New York is the Empire State.) They continue to tour regularly in North America, Europe, and Asia. They have been the Faculty Quintet-in-Residence at Boston University since 1976.[2]

The Empire Brass have appeared on Good Morning America, Today Show and Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.[3] They also make joint concert appearances with organist Douglas Major.[4]

Members

As of May 2015, its members include:

Previous members include:

Discography
  • A Bach Festival
  • Fireworks
  • Joy to the World, Music of Christmas
  • Baroque Music for Brass and Organ
  • Greatesthits.asp Greatest Hits
  • Empire Brass with The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay
  • Glory of Gabrieli
  • Empire Brass Quintet and Friends - American Brass Band Journal
  • Passage
  • King's Court and Celtic Fair
  • Firedance
  • Music of Gabrieli
  • Bernstein & Gershwin
  • Romantic Brass
  • The World Sings: An Empire Brass Christmas
  • Royal Brass
  • Mozart for Brass
  • Braggin' in Brass
  • Class Brass
  • Class Brass - On the Edge
  • Music for Organ, Brass & Percussion
  • On Broadway
  • Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
  • The Empire Brass Plays Annie
  • Empire Brass Quintet (Hovhaness, Hindemith, Bohme, Dvorak)
  • Christmas with the Master Chorale & Empire Brass
  • Pachelbel:Kanon & Other Baroque Favorites

References
  1. "Rolf Smedvig, 62; virtuoso trumpeter who cofounded renowned brass quintet". Boston Globe. May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  2. Wise, Brian (April 28, 2015). "Rolf Smedvig, Trumpeter Who Founded Empire Brass, Dies at 63". WQXR-FM. Retrieved May 8, 2015. The quintet was a co-winner of the Naumberg Chamber Music Award in 1976 and had also begun a long-term residency at Boston University.
  3. Woodstra, Chris; Brennan, Gerald; Schrott, Allen (2005). All Music Guide to Classical Music. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 417. ISBN 9780879308650.
  4. Acton, Nancy (April 21, 2006). "Major weekend treat for organ music lovers". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
  5. Sandomir, Richard (April 12, 2019). "Sam Pilafian, Tuba Maestro of Multiple Genres, Dies at 69". The New York Times. Retrieved December 4, 2020.


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