IBC at North United Methodist Church

In the Spring of 2003, the Indianapolis Brass Choir (Dr. Robert Grechesky, Music Director and Conductor), commissioned composer, arranger and trumpeter Mark Buselli to write a work for large brass ensemble in honor of Bob Day, formerly a member of the trumpet section of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for 34 years and a member of the Indianapolis Brass Choir (IBC) and many other local musical organizations.

Buselli wrote "a wonderful piece" entitled Suite for Brass: A Tribute to Bob Day. A three-movement work with each movement representing a different facet of Bob's personality and life, it was premiered on June 9, 2002 at North United Methodist Church, Indianapolis, Indiana, with Thomas McCauley conducting.

The Suite was given its international premiere at the 15th International Congress of the Internationale Gesellschaft zur Erforschung und Föderung des Blasmusik (IGEB, International Society for the Promotion and Investigation of Wind Music) in Lana, Italy on July 6, 2002 as part of the Indianapolis Brass Choir's first European tour.

About Bob Day

Robert Grechesky writes: Bob passed away two years ago. We had a tribute concert for him in which his son, Gil Hoffer, trumpeter in the US Army Band "Pershing's Own" came in from Washington and performed a solo. Many gifts and tributes were given to Bob, who was dying of cancer at the time. One of the highlights of the concert was the performance of Bugler's Holiday, in which Bob and his son Gil were two of the soloists. It was the last thing Bob ever played. He passed away three weeks later.

We commissioned the Buselli piece in Bob's memory, and premiered it a year later. We also started a scholarship for trumpeters in his memory, and each year at the last concert of the IBC we award that scholarship and "feature" the trumpet on the concert. This year's tribute is June 22, and John Rommel will be soloist with the Brass Choir, performing the Anthony Plog Concerto.

The Indianapolis Brass Choir in its own words

"We help others by tooting our own horns!" The Indianapolis Brass Choir (IBC) is a large brass ensemble of about 30 people who volunteer their time, talent and effort, without pay, to provide music for area churches and to aid local charities. The IBC, founded by Delbert A. Dale in 1987, has a membership of professional and semi-professional musicians, and serious amateurs, who meet for weekly rehearsals and perform ten to twelve concerts a year. The choir includes trumpets, trombones, french horns, euphoniums, tubas and percussion.

IBC in Lana, Italy

The IBC's main presenters are area churches, who can bring high quality brass ensemble music to their neighborhoods. These performances aid the local churches' music programs by providing the opportunity for their choir or organist to perform with the IBC and enhance their music ministry. Because the IBC is not paid for their performances, freewill offerings are collected at intermission and all the money collected is given to charity on behalf of the church and the IBC. The Indianapolis Brass Choir has raised over US$43,000 for charities since its founding. In the past year, the IBC has expanded its performance scope in order to broaden its audience base, raise money for the brass choir, and provide more educational outreach. The IBC has performed at such prestigious events as the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Akron, Ohio, the Indiana Music Educators Association State Music Convention (three times), the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky, and in concerts in the Austrian city of Innsbruck, in Venice, and in Lana, Italy, where as noted above they played for the 15th IGEB Congress.

The Indianapolis Brass Choir has commissioned and premiered many works for brass, both original compositions as well as transcriptions and arrangements, and has performed with guest artists such as Nicholas and Bob Childs, Marty Erickson, Melissa Williams, Allen Vizzuti, Gil Hoffer, Blake Schlabach, John Rommel, and John Mueller.

As the only established large brass ensemble in the area, the IBC offers a unique musical experience to the public. The repertoire is very wide, including ensembles from four parts up to full brass band arrangements; the ensemble plays works from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary eras; orchestral and symphonic band transcriptions, sacred music, folk songs and popular music, patriotic music, solos, jazz, and novelty numbers.

The IBC provides a performance outlet for brass players, formation of new ensembles, first hearing of new arrangements, interaction with area church musicians, and encouragement of young musicians to further their music education. By helping support local charities, local churches, and providing music education opportunities, the IBC is making an important social and cultural impact on the greater Indianapolis community.

Website:
Mark Buselli
IGEB (in five languages)

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