Brass Festival

On this page:

• About the Brass Festival
• Registration Information
• Solo Competition Information
• Guest Artists and Clinicians
• Schedule of Events

About the Brass Festival

January 17, 2022
Creative Arts Center AND Virtual
Wright State University

The Wright State University School of Fine and Performing Arts brass studios under the leadership of David Diamond, trumpet; Jess Pinkham, horn; Gretchen McNamara, trombone; and Daniel Honaker, tuba and euphonium, are excited to host another festival for brass musicians from our region this year.

Each January we bring to you world-renowned guest artists and clinicians for a day of music-making, master classes, and performances. We are excited to announce the 2022 Brass Festival guest artists will include Denson Paul Pollard, trombone; Jackie McIlwain, Body Mapping; Scott Leger and Emily Toth, horn; Yasuhito Sugiyama and Jarrett McCourt, tuba; Ashley Killam and Vincent DiMartino, trumpet; the Ohio Valley British Brass Band and the Wright State University Faculty Brass Quintet.

The day will include an in-person morning for high school students only covering fundamentals, ensemble rehearsals, and a recorded performance. The afternoon of masterclasses and performances by our guest artists, competition winners, and morning in-person participants, will be open to all registrants and will be presented virtually. Please see the schedule of events for further details.

This year’s festival will also be host to a performance solo competition in two divisions. High School brass musicians and Collegiate students up to age 25 are encouraged to compete. Competition rules, registration, and fees are described in the tabs below.

Hosts

• Gretchen McNamara, trombone
• Jessica Pinkham, horn
• David Diamond, trumpet
• Daniel Honaker, tuba

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Registration Information

All festival events taking place in the morning for high school students only will be held in the Creative Arts Center on the Dayton campus of Wright State University. All afternoon events for everyone registered, including morning participants, will take place virtually. Please register by Friday, January 14 so we can send links to attend virtually in advance on Saturday, January 15 to all who are registered. 

Registration Fees

• $25–High School and Collegiate Solo Competition only
• $25–In-Person and Virtual Festival Registration Fee 
• $35–Both Solo Competition and Festival

All participants under age 18 must submit a parent or guardian-signed Medical Consent and Liability Waiver (PDF) on the day of the event.

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Solo Competition Information

Dates

• Submission Deadline: December 1, 2021
• Top three performers in each division notified: December 15, 2021
• Announcement of the winner in each division: January 17, 2022, virtually

Cash Prizes

• 1st place High School Division: $250 (Sponsored by McCutcheon Music)
• 1st place Collegiate Division: $500 (Sponsored by Kincaid's Is Music)
• The first-place competition winner in each division will have their submitted competition video streamed on a virtual Brass Festival recital, January 17, 2022

Entry Fee

• $25–Competition only
• $35–Competition and Festival Participation

Entry fee payment is online and can be made by using: 

• Mastercard 
• Visa 
• Discover 
• webCheck 

Competition Eligibility and Repertoire

The Wright State Brass Festival Solo Competition will be in TWO DIVISIONS. The High School Division is open to anyone currently in grades 9-12. The Collegiate Division is open to university students regardless of degree program up to age 25 (born after January 17, 1997)

• Entrants may select a repertoire of their choice.
• Selected repertoire may be with or without piano accompaniment.
• Repertoire selected that has an accompaniment part must be performed with an accompanist.
• Selected repertoire must be 10 minutes in length or under.
• Movements of larger works will be accepted.
• There will be only one round of competition for each division.
• Video Recordings are due on December 1, 2021.
• The top three performers in each division will be notified on December 15, 2021 and receive recognition at a Brass Festival virtual recital on the afternoon of January 17. 
• The winner of each division will be announced and their submitted video recording broadcasted on a virtual recital at the WSU Brass Festival. 

Submitting Your Video Recording 

• Video recordings must be uploaded to YouTube using unlisted links 
• Video recording links must be submitted electronically via email to gretchen.mcnamara@wright.edu by December 1, 2021
• Your video should identify you by last name and division of competition. For example: McNamara, trombone, high school division
• No recording will be considered without the submission of the application fee 

In your application email, please include with your recording the following information: 

• Name 
• Instrument
• Repertoire
• Phone number 
• Email address 
• School 
• Year in school 
• DOB
• Major (Collegiate only)

Competition Judges: Wright State University Brass Faculty

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Guest Artists and Clinicians

• Gretchen McNamara
• Jess Pinkham
• David Diamond 
• Dan Honaker 
• Denson Paul Pollard
• Jacqueline McIlwain
• Ashley Killam
• Vincent DiMartino
• Emily Toth
• Jarrett McCourt
• Yasuhito Sugiyama

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Schedule of Events

Time	Event
9–9:30 a.m.	Registration Opens for High School onsite participants only
9:30 a.m.–1 p.m.	Festival Ensembles for High School onsite participants only–a detailed schedule of the morning will be finalized and sent out the week before the festival
1:30–2:45 p.m.	Virtual Guest Artist Master Classes on Zoom for all registered Participants Ashley Killam – Fanfare for the Unheard: Diversifying Brass Repertoire Emily Toth - Brass Mechanics 101: An anatomical Approach to Healthier, more Efficient Brass Playing Jarrett McCourt - Self-Care Seminar Jacqueline McIlwain - Body Mapping: Finding Your Balance
3–4:15 p.m.	Virtual Festival Recital for all registered participants Solo Competition Winners, WSU Faculty Brass Quintet, Ohio Valley British Brass Band
4:30–5:45 p.m.	Virtual Performance Master Classes via zoom for all registered participants Denson Paul Pollard, trombone; The Metropolitan Opera, Indiana University Scott Leger, horn; New World Symphony, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra Yasuhito Sugiyama, tuba; Cleveland Orchestra Vincent DiMartino, trumpet
6 p.m.	Virtual Festival Final Concert for all registered participants Student Festival Ensembles & Guest Artist Performances: Denson Paul Pollard, trombone; Vincent DiMartino, trumpet; Scott Leger, horn; Yasuhito Sugiyama, tuba.