Central Methodist University Invitational Brass Conference

On February 20, 2018, the Music Department at Central Methodist University hosted its biennial Invitational Brass Conference.

There were 193 high school brass players from 30 schools in Missouri for the all-day event. The conference included sessions on breathing, mouthpiece buzzing, tone production, technique, flexibility, equipment recommendations, and suggestions for obtaining useful method books and solo literature. The clinicians were CMU high brass professor Dr. John Perkins and Paul Copenhaver, trumpets; Professor Stephen Hanrahan, horn; CMU low brass professor Larry Bennett, trombone; Kyle Donnelly, euphoniums; Jane Hicklin, tubas; and CMU Director of Bands and Music Education Professor, Skip Vandelicht.

Trumpet master class

The highlight of the day was the guest appearance by the Boston Brass. They directed a session with the participants on the Breathing Gym along with advice on practicing, followed by providing master classes to high brass and low brass CMU students who included Kody Bartel, Audrey Brandon, Libby Cueni-Smith, Michael Brown, Kevin Helmerichs, Michael Arnold, Marchya Jackson, and Gannon Craig.The day concluded with a concert presented by the Boston Brass.

Boston Brass at CMU

(Source: John D. Perkins, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO)