Drew Hayden

Muse 250
Dr. Palmer
4/26/16
Curtis Fuller: A brief biography and selected Discography

Curtis Fuller is an American Jazz Trombonist. When looking at his

discography it is readily apparent that he is the real deal. Curtis Fuller has
worked with pretty much all of the Jazz greats. Hes worked with Miles Davis,
Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, Paul
Chambers, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and was the sixth member of Art
Blakeys Jazz Messengers. He is famed for his graceful and virtuosic style of
playing. He took what could be an awkward instrument and made it sound very
fluid. His signature move on trombone were octave jumps in his solos and his
overall virtuosity.
Curtis Fuller was born on December 15th, 1934 in Detroit. Fullers parents
died while he was still very young so Fuller was raised in an orphanage. Fuller
was raise in the orphanage for ten years. Fullers interest in Jazz is credited to
when a nun to him to see Illinois Jacquets band which featured JJ Johnson on
the Trombone. While going to school Fuller became friends with the legendary
bass player Paul Chambers. High School was when Fuller began to study music.
Fuller started playing the baritone in High School but eventually made the fateful
switch to trombone at the age of 16. After High School Fuller played in one of the
Army Bands. This was were Fuller would really develop as a musician. While in

the army band Fuller met and played alongside Cannonball Adderley. Fuller
played in the Army for 2 years and then returned to Detroit. After returning to
Detroit Fuller played in the Yusef Lateef Quintet before the quintet moved to New
York in 1957 and recorded several records.
After the move to New York Fuller seemed to never stop being busy. It
was at this time that Fuller started to play with Miles Davis. An executive from
Blue Note Records saw Fuller performing with Miles Davis and then signed him
as a Blue Note artist. Following this Fuller played on Blue Train by John Coltrane,
which is likely Fullers most listened to work. In 1961 Curtis Fuller turned Art
Blakeys Jazz Messengers into a sextet and created what many consider to be
one of the most exciting bands of the Hard Bop genre. Fuller played with the
Jazz Messengers for four years until 1965.
In 1968 Fuller toured throughout Europe with Dizzy Gillespie. After
returning to America Fuller did several sessions in New York. In the 1970s fuller
experimented quite a bit. Fuller played in a band which played hard bop
arrangements with electronic instruments. Fuller headed the group along with
guitar player Bill Washer and bassist Stanley Clarke. Following this period of
experimentation Fuller toured with Count Basie. He toured with Count Basie from
1975-1977. Fuller has done many projects since then and has worked with many
of the great jazz artists.
In more recent years Curtis Fuller has turn more towards education and is
an in demand clinician. Curtis Fuller has done clinics at many prestigious

universities. Curtis Fuller also holds an honorary Doctorate from Berklee College
of Music.
Curtis Fuller

Selected Discography
Blues-ette, Savoy, 1956
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Ugetsu, Riverside/OJC, 1963
Crankin', MRL, 1973
The Jazztet, Real Time, Contemporary, 1986
Keep It Simple, Savant, 2003
Reference list
"Curtis Fuller." : The Hard Bop Homepage. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
"NEA Jazz Masters." Home. Web. 24 Apr. 2016.
The Opener Curtis Fuller. Blue Note, 1957. CD.

Ryan Schunk
MUSE 250
Brass Artist Research Project

Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian trumpet player and bandleader for several jazz
big-band ensembles. Music was Fergusons life, his passion, and he immersed himself
into the discipline. Born in 1928 in Verdun, Quebec, his parents fostered his musical
experiences. In his early childhood, he learned to play the violin and piano at the age of
four. After receiving special training on the trumpet at the age of 9, Ferguson made his
debut as a soloist for the Canadian Broadcasting Company Orchestra at 11 years old.
When Ferguson dropped out of Montreal High School at the age of 15, he played
in a dance band led by his brother, Percy, and started his career as a professional
musician. A year later, Ferguson led his first jazz and dance band. At the age of 20, he
moved to the United States and played in Boyd Raeburns progressive band. In 1950,
Ferguson developed his reputation as a screeching upper-register trumpeter in Stan
Kentons brass ensemble. After playing with Kenton for a few years, he made a living as
a studio trumpeter for Paramount Pictures, recording film soundtracks. In 1955, Ferguson
performed the Titans, by William Russo, with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra
under the direction of Leonard Bernstein.

Maynard Ferguson is best known for his formation of his big-band jazz
orchestras, of which he formed thirteen ensembles over the rest of his career after 1955.
He had several famous arrangers such as Don Sebesky, Don Menza, and Slide Hampton
contribute to his ensembles, catapulting the big-band sound to the mainstream pop charts.
One of his best hits, Gonna Fly Now, reached listeners across the United States in
1977. This chart was from the blockbuster hit, Rocky. This notoriety earned him the
title of the Number One Pop Instrumentalist in Billboard magazine. After the movies
successful run, Ferguson toured the United States over the next few decades playing with
one of his jazz orchestras and appearing as a featured soloist for different artists and
groups. Ferguson passed away in 2006 in Ventura, California, and had recorded an album
titled The One and Only, which was released in 2007 by Contemporary Records.
Ferguson recorded dozens of albums for studio musicians, as a soloist, and with
different jazz ensembles. His covers of songs such as Gonna Fly Now, Birdland, and
Chameleon are a few charts that helped him gain lots of attention in the national
spotlight. His most significant albums include his self-titled album accompanied by the
Kenton Orchestra, The Hot Canary, in 1950. Fergusons first big album with his Octet
Jazz Ensemble released their covers of Autumn Leaves and Finger-Snappin in 1955.
In 1963, he released his album under Roulette Records titled Maynard 63 where he
performed as a soloist with his jazz orchestra. In 1977, his performance of Gonna Fly
Now from the movie, Rocky, became one of his best singles.
References
Josephson, Sanford. Jazz Notes: Interviews across the Generations. Santa Barbara:
Praeger, 2009. Print.
"Maynard Ferguson." Discogs. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
<https://www.discogs.com/artist/38207-Maynard-Ferguson?filter_anv=0>.

"MaynardFerguson.com - The Official Web Site of Maynard Ferguson."

MaynardFerguson.com - The Official Web Site of Maynard Ferguson. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.maynardferguson.com/>.

Colton Duffy
MUSE 250
Brass Artist
4/24/16
Chuck Mangione

For over five decades, the music of Chuck Mangione has

provided energy and joy to music lovers across the world. Chuck
Mangione is an American flugelhorn player, trumpeter, and composer.
Chuck Mangione achieved international success in 1977 with his most
popular piece Feels So Good. He has released thirty more albums
since 1960.
Chuck Mangione was born on November 29, 1940 in Rochester,
New York. Both he and his brother Gaspare Mangione started music at
a very young age. Chuck Mangione attended Eastman School of Music
from 1958-1963, and afterwards he joined Art Blakeys Jazz ensemble
where he played trumpet. Later, he served as director of the Eastman
Jazz ensemble from 1968-1972. This teaching position led to Chuck
Mangione earning a major recording contract with Mercury records. He
also earned a Grammy nomination during his time with the Eastman
Jazz ensemble.
Chuck Mangione won his first Grammy Award in 1977 in the Best
Instrumental Category. During this time, Mangione worked closely with
saxophonist Gerry Niewood. The two recorded many albums together
including the Grammy winning album Feels So Good. His music was
also used at the 1976 summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec and at
the 1980 winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. He preformed live
at both closing ceremonies for the 1976 and 1980 Olympic games.

Chuck Mangione won his second Grammy in 1979 for his

soundtrack on the film The Children of Sanchez. The Grammy was won
in the Best Pop instrumental performance category. Mangione
continued to compose for other movie soundtracks in the future.
The 1980s were a big time for Chuck Mangione. He signed with
Columbia records and released many more albums. He was also busy
with many interviews and performances during these years. In 1989,
Chuck Mangione released two albums. Following these releases and
playing 25 years of one-night events around the world, Chuck
Mangione stopped playing music.
Chuck Mangione disappeared form the music industry for many
years. It was not until 1994 that he resurfaced with a new drive and
passion for music. Many attribute the death of Dizzy Gillespie to his
resurface in the music industry. During 1994, Chuck Mangione recorded
two new albums and also numerous nightclub performances.
Chuck Mangione is a Jazz legend as well as a Grammy winner
who changed the landscape of Jazz in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2012,
Chuck Mangione was inducted into the Rochester Music Hall of Fame.
His dedication to Jazz, music education, and music in general shaped
the way a whole generation listed to Jazz music.

Resource list and Discography

http://www.chuckmangione.com
Recording can be found on his website as well as tour dates

Miller, Frederic P., Agnes F. Vandome, and John McBrewster.

Chuck Mangione. VDM, 2010. Print.

Carolyn Kelley
Dr. PalmerMUSE 250

Brass Artist ProjectIn The Mood Jazz Band

A Little About In the Mood Productions
In the Mood: A 1940s Musical Revue is a group of performerssingers,
dancers, and jazz band playerswho celebrate the musical styles of the 1930s and
1940s, the Big Band era. This was the last time in our history as a country when all
Americans were listening and dancing to the same musicjazz. This group formed in
1993, when the USO appointed them the official entertainment for the 50th
commemoration of the second World War. The singers and dancers of the group dress in
clothes authentic to the time period and the choreography for their musical dances is
based on the dancing styles of the time. The thirteen piece String of Pearls Orchestra
(jazz band) plays authentic musical arrangements of the popular songs and works of that
time period. These famous performers of the 1940s were people like Glenn Miller,
Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins, The
Andrews Sisters, and Frank Sinatra. The production as a whole covers the range of
emotions felt before World War Two and after it, waiting for loved ones to return. This
production has been touring the country for 22 years, and occasionally performing
outside the US, in New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia. While touring
in the US, they perform 30 or more shows in a two month time period, including the time
spent driving from one state to the next. This group has been recognized nationally and
has performed in commemorations for World War Two and for President Clintons
inaugural ball.

The performers that make up the group hail from very different parts of the United
States and a variety of backgrounds, like Washington. Most, if not all, performers hold
some type of degree in music and have a variety of field experience in musical
performance opportunities outside of In the Mood. Two of their current performers
graduated from Ball State University in the past, Scott Whitford and James Middleton.
In the Mood Show on CD discography sample:
St. Louis Blues March (Handy)
Yes, Indeed (Oliver)
Well All Right (Faye, Kapp, Raye)
In the Mood (Garland)
Big Band Medley
Swinging On A Star (Van Heusen, Burke)
Jeepers Creepers (Warren, Mercer)

That Old Feeling (Fain, Brown)

Taking a Chance on Love (Duke, Latouche, Fetter) and Aint We Got Fun (Egan, Kahn, Whiting)
Elmers Tune (Albrecht, Gallop, Jurgens) and Chattanooga Choo Choo (Warren, Gordon)
Well, Git It! (Oliver)
Im Getting Sentimental Over You (Bassman) and Moonlight Serenade (Miller, Parish)
Dream (Mercer)
I Cant Get Started (Duke, Gershwin)
Begin the Beguine (Porter)
Serenade In Blue (Warren, Gordon)
Hey! Ba Ba Re Bop (Hamner, Hampton)
Skylark (Carmichael, Mercer) and Mood Indigo ( Bigard, Mills, Ellington)
Say That Were Sweethearts Again (Brent) and Tuxedo Junction (Dash, Feyne, Hawkins, Johnson)
Resources: http://inthemoodlive.com--The website for the group
Paper program from one of their shows in 2015

Lindsay Baker
MusEd 250
Brass Artist Project
Canadian Brass

Canadian Brass is a brass quintet, which was originally formed in

1970 by Chuck Daellenbach and Gene Watts. The members of
Canadian Brass consist of founding member Chuck Daellenbach
(tuba), Christopher Coletti and Caleb Hudson (trumpets), Achilles
Liarmakopoulos (trombone) and Bernhard Scully (horn). Though, brass

quintets were not new at the time, Canadian Brass was the first to
achieve a successful career has achieved over the last 40 something
years. Their concerts usually have a wide range of repertoire from
trademark Baroque to Dixieland tunes to new compositions. Their
presentation of their music also has a wide range. They present music
in ways such as formal classical presentations to music with dialogue
and theatrical effects.
The Canadian Brass ensemble has produced over 130 albums
and has toured all over the world. They were the first brass ensemble
from the West to perform in the Peoples Republic of China as well as
the first brass ensemble to take the stage in Carnegie Hall. The varied
Canadian Brass repertoire features brass standards as well as a
ranging library of original arrangements. These include the works from
the Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical eras, marches, holiday tunes,
ragtime, Dixieland, Latin, Jazz, Big band, Broadway and Christian
music, as well as pop songs.
Music performed by the Canadian Brass ensemble can be found
on youtube, itunes, as well as their many albums. Below are some
samples of some of their most popular pieces.
Canon in D: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut_vq0eN1WA
Fugue in g minor, Bach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Qvc4955x_W8

Flight of the Bumblebee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=xZO5KTJTwhE
Bad Romance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cy3tjg1tVw
Beale Street Blues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXMLuiPBIao
The Canadian Brass, even with all of their touring around the
world, the members will often teach master classes and are happy to
teach young students and audiences. They also have outreach
programs through their involvement at various schools including the
Eastman School of Music as well as being exclusive artists for ConnSelmer Musical Instruments.

Sources
Canadian Brass Website: http://www.canadianbrass.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/
iTunes

Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller, an American, was born in Clarinda, Iowa, on March
1, 1904. Glenn grew up playing the rather unusual mandolin, but
eventually he got his hands on a brass instrument and stuck with it.
His family whisked him away to many different cities throughout his
schooling life. Glenn eventually found himself at Fort Morgan, Colorado
playing in the band there. He graduated high school in 1921 and
quickly joined the Boyd Senters orchestra afterwards. After two years
of the professional musicians life, he quit to go to college at the
University of Colorado.
College seemed to not suite Miller, though, and dropped out after
a year of attendance to return to the life of a musician. He soon

moved out to Los Angeles where he hopped into Ben Pollacks band.
After awhile, he decided to head on again with another move; this time
to New York City. For quite a few years, he freelanced as a trombonist
and arranger in the Big Apple. In 1934, he worked as a director for a
couple different bands including Tommy Dorseys band as well as the
American orchestra for a British bandleader Ray Noble. After a few
years of soul searching, trial and error, and a whole lot of
instrumentalists later, Glenn got his own band off the ground; the
Glenn Miller Orchestra.
His band was struggling to gain popularity until he landed some
gigs at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle, New York. This
opportunity, which occurred in 1939, gave the Miller name its fame.
These gigs were broadcast on the radio, spreading their sound far and
wide. Later that year, Glenn composed his first big hit named Wishing
(Will Make it So) which put him even farther up the popularity scale.
One of the most famous of his ballades, Moonlight Serenade, was
published soon afterwards gaining him top position in the charts.
Millers Orchestra soon became the most beloved swing band in
America with the addition of popular hits like In the Mood,
Pennsylvania 6-5000, and Tuxedo Junction. All of these were
released in 1940 and can be found on such recordings such as Glenn
Millers Original Recordings; Plays selections from the Glenn Miller
Story and Other Hits.
In the next few years he produced a couple of films featuring
some of his new hits including Sun Valley Serenade in 1941, and
Orchestra Wives in 1942. Sun Valley Serenade featured his song
Chattanooga Choo Choo. After producing his second film, Orchestra
Wives, he was inducted into the U.S. Army to participate in the Second
World War. He later transferred into the Army Air Force and became
part of the Army Air Force Band, giving him the chance to avoid most
of the dangers of war.
The world mysteriously lost the King of Jazz in 1944 when he
received word that he was to be moved to the newly liberated city of
Paris for a performance. He boarded a plane leaving ahead of the
others to make early preparations. Somewhere between England, the
station just prior, and France, his plane disappeared. No one to this
day knows what happened to the plane; whether it crashed, was shot
down, or any other number of tragedies. His body was never
recovered, leaving behind his wife and two children. His band did not
disband after his death, and kept playing for a couple months after his
disappearance. It was later revived to honor the life and works of
Glenn and still tours today.
Glenn Miller left the world with an amazing legacy. He even had
a film produced about his story in 1954 called The Glenn Miller Story!
Some of the most famous and popular big band jazz charts even in the
modern age were composed by Miller. No big band jazz swing dance

would be complete without a blaring, upbeat In the Mood, or the

classy and fun Pennsylvania 6-5000. He paved the way for many
other big band jazz groups, and helped spur the uprising of the swing
era and venue. Overall, America, and the world, was blessed by the
brilliant ideas of the man named Glenn Miller.
A few links to some Glenn Miller;
In The Mood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPXwkWVEIIw
Moonlight Serenade: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n92ATE3IgIs
Chattanooga Choo Choo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQybKMXL-k
A String of Pearls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qq2AV7Wx5w
Tuxedo Junction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=iBTYcqtaOjg&index=5&list=RD8Qq2AV7Wx5w
Pennsylvania 6-5000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=m_muFwwTSMs&list=RD8Qq2AV7Wx5w&index=7

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Miller_Orchestra

http://ww2nation.com/event/music-the-glenn-miller-orchestra-at-thebridgewater-hall-manchester/

Citation
Biography.com Editors. "Glenn Miller." Bio.com. A&E Networks
Television. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
<http://www.biography.com/people/glenn-miller-37990#king-ofswing>.
Miller, Glenn. Glenn Miller Plays Selections from The Glenn Miller Story,
and Other Hits. RCA
Victor, 1956. Vinyl recording.

Christopher Martin
Brass Artist Research Project

Christopher Martin is the principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

since 2005. Prior to that, he served as principal trumpet of the Atlanta Symphony
Orchestra and associate principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. He
studied under Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer, esteemed trumpet pedagogues, at the
Eastman School of Music, earning a BM with performers certificate. He has been on
faculty at Northwestern University (Chicago Symphony Orchestra).
He grew up in Marietta, Georgia alongside his brother Michael Martin, another
famed trumpet player. Michael Martin is currently serves as Third/Utility Trumpet of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra. He also studied under Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer at
Northwestern University following their tenure at Eastman (Boston Symphony
Orchestra). In both brothers younger years, they participated in Drum Corps
International. Michael Martin played and now works with the Cavaliers, and Chris Martin
played with the Spirit of Atlanta.

Christopher Martins career is primarily cited in the orchestral world; however, he

does perform as a soloist occasionally with major orchestras. Most notably, he performed
as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra under the composer John Williams for
the soundtrack for the major motion picture, Lincoln on With Malice Toward None
(Williams). Another notable experience of Chris Martins solo career was his
performance of the premier of A Tribute to Adolph Bud Herseth written by Jim
Stevenson at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in 2013. Most recently, he
performed the world premier of Heimdalls Trumpet, a concerto commissioned for him
in 2012 (Chicago Symphony Orchestra).
Since Mr. Martins solo career is limited, there are limited recordings that feature
him primarily; however, there are numerous recordings that feature the brass section of
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. These include Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass
Live from 2011 and Prokofiev: Suite from Romeo and Juliet from 2014. In addition to
these, the Gabrielli National Brass Ensemble recording from 2015 is a fantastic
demonstration of extraordinary brass playing that includes Christopher Martin. Lastly, the
Lincoln soundtrack from 2012 best exemplifies the amazing sound that Mr. Martin
holds (Chicago Symphony Orchestra).
The most fascinating and very recent news regarding Chris Martin was released
only days ago. According to Last Row Music, Chris will be taking a leave of absence
from his position in Chicago to temporarily fill the first chair of the New York
Philharmonic. In a personal conversation with Ethan Bensdorf, the acting associate
principal trumpet in New York, Chris was rumored to have been moving from Chicago to

New York. If he moves, he will be one of two trumpet players ever to be a member of the
CSO and the New York Philharmonic. The other is Phil Smith (Last Row Music).
In my personal time spent listening to Chriss playing as a soloist and an
orchestral principal player, I have deduced that he is my model for sound. Particularly in
his solo work, his vibrato and and sweet cornet-like tone have set him apart from
hundreds of other candidates for his job. In addition to his sound, his ease in playing, a
common trait among students of Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer, distinguish him as a
true master of his instrument.
Discography is listed in the top paragraph of page 2.

Works Cited
"| Boston Symphony Orchestra | Bso.org." | Boston Symphony Orchestra | Bso.org. N.p.,
n.d.
Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
"Brass Arranger, Brass Caption Head." Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. The Cavaliers
Drum
and Bugle Corps, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
"Chicago Principal Trumpet to Take Leave of Absence." Last Row Music. N.p., 21 Apr.
2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
"CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: TRUMPET." Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
Williams, John. WILLIAMS, J.: Lincoln (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Chicago
Symphony Chorus and Orchestra, J. Williams). Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Naxos Digital Services US Inc., 2013. CD.

Brass Artist Research Project

This all female French horn quartet that began in 2010, considers themselves the
most innovative and energizing chamber ensemble of its generation. The members of
Genghis Barbie (Freedom Barbie, Cosmic Barbie, Velvet Barbie and Attila the Horn) all
vowed that every performance will be distinctive, interactive, and personal.
The name Genghis Barbie came from, as member Danielle Kuhlmann (Velvet
Barbie) says, from one of her dads friends daughter who just learned about Genghis
Kahn in school and played with Barbie since she was about five years old. This little girl
drew up a comic strip for school called Genghis Barbie and Kuhlmann told all her friends
that if she was to start a band she would call it Genghis Barbie. When the group came up
with the idea of the horn quartet they had a couple of names, some that were slightly
more inappropriate than others, so they just decided to stick with Genghis Barbie.

Genghis Barbie was actually formed at one of the quartet members bachelorette
party. These women had already been friends and just happened to all do the same thing,
play French horn. At the time they were all freelancers, but the idea just popped into their
heads to start a horn quartet and play pop music that they loved.
Before the group was formed each individual had their own work that they were
previously devoted. Danielle Kuhlmann, aka Velvet Barbie, volunteered for the group
Culture in Harmony, a New York based NGO that promotes cultural diplomacy through
music. Kuhlmann also volunteered to teach music at the Afghanistan National Institute of
Music. Rachel Drehmann, aka Attila the Horn, performs a series of baroque horn
concertos, Banda de Los Muertos, the Chamber Orchestra of New York, and was also a
member of the indie rock band A Whisper In The Noise. Drehmann also performed, as a
soloist, with the Brooklyn Sumphony Orchestra, as well as the American Symphony
Orchestra, Albany Symphony, Princeton Symphony, Northeast Pennsylvania
Philharmonic, The Knights, and Metropolis Ensemble and numerous Broadway shows.
Alana Vegter, aka Freedom Barbie, played with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln
Center, The New York Philharmonic, The Orchestra of St. Lukes, The Knights Chamber
Orchestra, International Contemporary Ensemble, and City Music Cleveland. Vegter has
also performed in many orchestral and chamber music settings with the Spoleto Festival
USA, Pacific Music Festival, Chamber Music Northwest, Festspiele MecklenburgVorpommern, Bay Chamber Concerts, The Verbier Festival Orchestra, The Julliard
Orchestra, and The Aspen Music Festival. Then there is Leelanee Sterrett, aka Cosmic
Barbie, who is third horn in the New York Philharmonic, and is a member of the New
Haven Symphony, La Crosse and Fox Valley Symphony Orchestras.

Genghis Barbie performs arrangements of pop music from the 60s, 70s, 80s,
90s, 00s and today, contemporary commissions, and classical works. This group takes
pieces that they enjoy and rearranges the song into a quartet that could be played by
horns. Some of the time a piece does not work out because it does not sound right
between the four horns, but most of the time the piece comes out pretty successfully.
When rearranging the piece, the group tries and to give each individual the parts of the
song that they like the most, but if that cannot happen then they usually get first choice on
the next piece.
The group finds it absolutely important that people see something out of the box
and people doing something they love. The goal of the group is to inspire other people to
find what they love to do because that is why Genghis Barbie does what they do. They
say, Its not necessarily that what we are doing is unique or different, its that we care
about what we do. This is because Genghis Barbie likes to have fun with each
performance and wants the audience to react however they want to; they are going to
continue to do what they do and have a good time with it and hope that their audience
does too.
Genghis Barbie just recently came out with a new CD making that a total of four
in the past couple of years. These recordings include Genghis Barbies Debut,
Genghis Barbie- Home for the Holidays, Genghis Barbie- Songs for Noa, and
Genghis Barbie- Amp It Up!
Works Cited
Yeh, Molly. Q&A With Genghis Barbie. The Juilliard Journal. October (2012). Print.
Genghis Barbie. www.genghisbarbie.com. 2012. Web. 23 November 2014.

STILETTO BRASS QUINTET

Stiletto Brass was formed in 2010, and is comprised of five

different women brass players. These players careers range widely
from orchestral, wind band, and brass chamber music. This group has
played with Doc Severinson as well as the Heartland Festival
Orchestra. They have played at the International Womens Brass
Conference, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the National
Trumpet Competition, and the Great American Brass Band Festival.

They have played concerts in New York, New Hampshire, Illinois,

Tennessee, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Oregon. Amy
Gilreath and Cathy Leach play trumpet, Misty Tolle plays French horn,
Nicole Abissi plays trombone, and Velvet Brown plays tuba.
The groups iconic signature is the bright red stiletto heels that
they wear whenever they do performances. Just like their look is out of
the ordinary, their programs are also very different than other brass
quintets. The group strives to include and program music that is
composed by people of this time period, as well as music all the way
back to the Baroque period. Audiences never know what to expect
when attending a Stiletto Brass concert; concerts are often serious,
fun, emotionally intense, and heart-warming.
Amy Gilreath is one of the trumpet players in the Stiletto Brass.
She attended Eastern Kentucky University in order to receive her
Bachelors degree, and then she attended the University of Illinois in
order to receive her Masters and Doctorate degrees. Gilreath is the
Principal Trumpet with the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Peoria
Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Chamber Orchestra, the Sugar Creek
Symphony, and Song Orchestra. She also plays as an extra sub with
the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. She serves as the brass faculty
for the Orvieto Musica Chamber Music Festival in Orvieto, Italy. She
joined faculty at the School of Music at Illinois State University in 1990.

She plays in the Monarch Brass as well, which is another all-women

brass group.
Cathy Leach is the other trumpet player in the Stiletto Brass. She
played Principal Trumpet with the Knoxville Symphony and the
Knoxville Symphony Chamber Orchestras for thirty-one years. She
retired in 2013 in order to work on her solo career, teaching, chamber
work, and publishing her own music. She is the Professor of Trumpet at
the University of Tennessee as well as on the Board of Directors for the
International Trumpet Guild. She is the president and cofounder of her
own chapter of the International Trumpet Guild, called the Smokey
Mountain Trumpet Guild.
Misty Tolle is the French horn player in the Stiletto Brass. She has
performed with major Broadway Orchestras (such as Phantom of the
Opera, Wicked, and Les Miserables), the Orchestra of St. Lukes, Albany
Symphony, with Il Divo at the Emmys, many popular ensembles at
Radio City Music, and many more. She also records a lot of music.
Misty Tolle currently teaches at Centre College, Interlochen Arts Camp,
and the University of Kentucky.
Nicole Abissi is the trombone player in the Stiletto Brass. She
received her Bachelor of Music at Julliard. She has played second
trombone for the Alabama Symphony, acting Principal Trombonist for
the Colorado Symphony, and acting Principal Trombonist for the Macon
Symphony. She also performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,

National Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony, Qatar

Philharmonic Orchestra, and Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.
Velvet Brown is the tuba player in the Stiletto Brass. She has
taught at Bowling Green University, Ball State University, Boston
University, and now teaches at Pennsylvania State University. She was
the secretary of the International Tuba and Euphonium Association, as
well as founding member of the International Womens Brass
Conference. She is a founding as well as a current member of the
Monarch Brass Quintet and Ensemble, the Junction Tuba Quartet, and
the Pennsylvania Brassworks. She also has a career as an international
soloist, chamber ensemble performer, recording artist, conductor, and
orchestral player.

Discography
Stiletto Brass

Stiletto Brass Quintet

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stilettobrassquintet

Amy Gilreath

Forbes plays Koetsier

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?
pid=7241873&style=music

Enescu: Impressions from Childhood; Chamber Symphony,

Quartet No. 2 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?
pid=7847139&style=music

Cathy Leach

The Galliard Brass Ensemble https://www.discogs.com/Galliard-

Brass-Ensemble-Carols-For-Brass-Volume-2/release/3335027
Greater Vision- the King Came Down
https://www.discogs.com/Greater-Vision-The-King-Came-

Down/release/8279251
Electro-Acoustic Music by Kenneth Jacobs
https://www.discogs.com/Kenneth-Jacobs-Electro-Acoustic-MusicBy-Kenneth-Jacobs/release/2174752

Velvet Brown

Coolest Love http://www.allmusic.com/album/coolest-love-

mw0000496202
Perspectives: Sound and Rhythm
http://www.allmusic.com/album/perspectives-sound-and-rhythm-

mw0001504908
Velvet Brown, Tuba http://www.allmusic.com/album/velvet-brown-

tuba-mw0001849183
Simply Velvet http://www.potenzamusic.com/simply-velvet119723.cfm

Other Resources (besides CDs)

http://www.stilettobrass.com/#!home/c21a5

https://www.facebook.com/Stiletto-Brass-Quintet181425271909167/

Emily McCroskey
4/26/16
MUSE 250
Brass Artist Research Paper
With every instrument, there are role models that people look up to as a way to
gain motivation and get better. On the horn, Philip Farkas is the artist to look up to
because after years of experience he gained the proper knowledge to be an extraordinary
horn player. Born on March 4, 1914, Farkas had a wonderful musical career and offered
his knowledge to the world through books and consultation with refining the horn until
his death on December 21, 1992.

While most of the famous musicians begin learning their instrument at a young
age, Farkas was not one them. Farkas began his musical career on piano because his
mother insisted that he be involved in music. Farkas continued his musical career in boy
scouts by being the bugler player at the age of 12 and continued on the bulge until age 14.
Around this time, Farkas developed symptoms of asthma and his parents thought that
playing a wind instrument in school would help. Beginning with high school band at
Calumet High School, Farkas started on tuba but ran into a problem of carrying it back
and forth to school with the conductor on the streetcar that he took to get to school.
Farkas then asked the conductor what case would be allowed and the conductor pointed
to a horn case and switched to horn.1 As soon as Farkas began playing the horn, he fell
in love with the instrument and began perfecting his talent with it.
By 1927, Farkas decided to be a professional horn player and to help build his
technique, he began taking lessons from Earl Stricker. From these lessons, Farkas
learned and grew so much that he became the youngest horn player to be in the All
Chicago High School Orchestra. To continue growing, Farkas switched teachers and
began studying privately with one of the greatest horn players of his time, Louis
Dufrasne. From Dufrasne, Farkas began playing with the Chicago Civic Orchestra and it
helped jumpstart his musical career. Soon after, Farkas began playing as first horn with
the Kansas City Philharmonic and moved on to Chicago, Boston, New York, Cleveland,
and Philadelphia. While playing with these orchestras, Farkas taught at Kansas City
Conservatory, Cleveland Institute, DePaul, Roosevelt, Northwestern, and Indiana
1 Philip F. Farkas (1914-1992) - IHS Online. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2016, from http://www.hornsociety.org/26people/honorary/48-philip-f-farkas-1914-1992

University. Also, Farkas worked at the Aspen Festival Orchestra and toured with the
American Woodwind Quintet.
Aside from his teaching and professional career, Farkas continued sharing his
ideas through writing and helped developed a horn that would help the player. One of his
most famous works is The Art of Horn Playing which includes knowledge of
techniques and exercises that he had used himself and the words of his teachers. To many
horn players it is referred to as the Bible of Horn Playing because it provides a great
reference to players on the proper embouchure, various breathing exercises, and reasons
behind techniques. For instance, Farkas states in his book that no matter what
mouthpiece we may tempted to use, we must keep within the bounds of whats good for
the instrument offering the advice that players will want to find something that works
for them but they also need to look at what the instrument needs. 2 Not only did Farkas
provide a legacy of information, he also helped with consolations to improve the horn
itself. Working with Holton, Farkas exchanged many letters to him that included
improvements Farkas wished to be made on the horn such as adjustable little finger ring
and a case that would have room to fit an emergency kit of tools to fix the horn.3 Farkas
continued to modify this instrument until his death at the age of 78.

Works Cited

2 The Art of French Horn Playing. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from https://books.google.com/books?
id=sscaH7PJOx0C

3 Whatever Happened to the H-109 Ultra-Farkas Horn? (2010, August 18). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from
https://jamesboldin.com/2010/08/18/whatever-happened-to-the-h-109-ultra-farkas-horn/

The Art of French Horn Playing. (n.d.). Retrieved April 24, 2016, from
https://books.google.com/books?id=sscaH7PJOx0C
Philip F. Farkas (1914-1992) - IHS Online. (n.d.). Retrieved April 23, 2016, from
http://www.hornsociety.org/26-people/honorary/48-philip-f-farkas-1914-1992
Whatever Happened to the H-109 Ultra-Farkas Horn? (2010, August 18). Retrieved
April 24, 2016, from https://jamesboldin.com/2010/08/18/whatever-happened-to-the-h109-ultra-farkas-horn/
Discography
Solo piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Z4sy3gvkw
Orchestral piece with the Chicago Symphony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=rebEG8nYlgg
Chamber Ensemble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Q45_SQJdYsE&list=PL2ck3S29Q6olICIV2O7Ymcc_AF2nge4Cp