The University of Oklahoma Faculty Brass Quintet

On Thursday and Friday, March 6-7, 2008 the Music Department at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico hosted an exciting musical and educational event that featured The University of Oklahoma Faculty Brass Quintet from Norman, Oklahoma.  The members of the quintet are Karl Sievers and Jay Wilkinson (Trumpets), Eldon Matlick (Horn), Irvin Wagner (Trombone), and Brian Dobbins (Tuba). 

Thursday’s events began with an intensive master class followed by that evening’s concert.  The university and area high school students enjoyed separate master classes that featured the members of the brass quintet lecturing on several topics.  On Friday morning, several students were able to enjoy a private lesson with the guest artists. 

For the evening concert, the group performed an eclectic mix of music including:

• Scheidt: Canzon No. XXX Supra intra “Etiopicam
• Bach: Fugue in G minor
• Collier Jones: Four Movements for Five Brass
• Roland Barrett: Three Frames
• Joel Sanchez: Winter Evening Sojourn
• Roland Barrett: Dances
• Duke Ellington; Concerto for Cootie
• George Wallington: Godchild
• Traditional: When the Saints go Marching In

For an encore to the first half Irvin Wagner performed Bye, Bye Blues that literally brought the audience to their feet: he played the spoons while playing the trombone with his foot!

Many thanks go to the members of the OU Faculty Brass Quintet for providing this opportunity for our students. 

The ENMU Department of Music consists of over 100 undergraduate students in 2 majors; music education and performance. The department’s trumpet studio is growing rapidly and currently has 17 students, with excellent prospects of more for the upcoming year. Dr. Michael Ellzey is Assistant Professor of Trumpet and teaches High Brass Methods, Music Reading-Theory, and other courses as needed by the department.  Ellzey also conducts the University Brass Choir and was the event coordinator and host for the event.

Links:
Music Department at Eastern New Mexico University
University of Oklahoma School of Music