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American Brass Quintet to perform at St. Olaf

By Linnae Stole '10
October 28, 2008

The internationally renowned American Brass Quintet will make its first of two weekend appearances at St. Olaf Friday, Nov. 7 with a concert in Boe Chapel at 8 p.m. The ensemble, currently in its 49th season, is noted as one of the premier chamber groups of our time. It has been hailed as the "high priest of brass" by Newsweek magazine and "positively breathtaking" by the New York Times.

AmericanBrassQuintet
The American Brass Quintet has been hailed as the "high priest of brass" by Newsweek magazine.
Following the quintet's performance on Friday evening, they will spend Saturday, Nov. 8 in residence at St. Olaf, as high school students from around the region convene on campus for the annual St. Olaf Band Day. Both performances are free and open to the public. Please note that parking may be limited, and it is recommended that visitors arrive early.

Since its founding, the American Brass Quintet (ABQ) has performed in all 50 of the United States, Europe, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East. The ensemble's discography totals more than 50 recordings, and it has premiered numerous contemporary brass quintet works. All five current members are on faculty at The Juilliard School in New York and are active freelancers in New York City and around the country.

Beyond their commitment to performance at the highest possible level, members of the ABQ have worked to promote the art of chamber music through education. The ensemble has been in residence at the Julliard School since 1987 and at the Aspen Music Festival since 1970. With the support of ABQ, groups such as the Manhattan Brass Quintet and the Meridian Arts Ensemble have gone on to establish their own distinct presence in the field of chamber music. Students participating in the ABQ seminar at Julliard have also gone on to hold positions with such groups as the Canadian Brass and the Empire Brass quintets. The group tours regularly and since 2001 has established a program of mini-residencies at schools and in communities in the United States and abroad.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.