The Chestnut Brass Company of Philadelphia is pleased to announce the completion of a work for brass quintet by noted Minnesota composer, George Hitt. The new work, Lou N’ Valtzi’s Night Out, is the result of a commission by the Chestnut Brass Company and Matinee Musical of Duluth, Minnesota, with funding from many friends of George Hitt.

Retired University of Minnesota-Duluth composer, Dr. George Hitt taught trumpet, composition and jazz courses. As Director of Jazz Studies he initiated and helped create a successful jazz performance degree. A native of Colorado, Dr. Hitt earned his BM and MM degrees from the University of Colorado-Boulder. His doctorate is from Indiana University. Dr. Hitt has numerous compositions including works for strings, woodwinds, brass and wind ensemble. His Duo for Horn and Piano was selected for the United States Bicentennial performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and is included in the national time capsule to be opening in 2076.

The Grammy-winning Chestnut Brass Company has earned international acclaim for brilliant performances on modern and historical brass instruments. Since beginning as a street band in Philadelphia in 1977, they have performed in North and South America, Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. The chamber ensemble is active in the performance and commissioning of contemporary music, and has introduced numerous new works to audiences around the country. Composers who have written works for the Chestnut Brass Company, or have been commissioned by the Chestnut Brass Company, include Richard Wernick, Peter Schickele, Leslie Bassett, Eric Stokes, Theodore Antoniou, Jan Krzywicki, and Paul Basler. The brass quintet has received awards for commissioning and performance from the NEA, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Chamber Music America and Meet the Composer.

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Chestnut Brass