Take the Next Step
Finding the right college means finding the right fit. See all that the College of Liberal Arts has to offer by visiting campus.
Brass Festival
On this page:
- About the Brass Festival
- Registration Information
- Solo Competition Information
- Artists and Clinicians
- Schedule of Events
- On-site Vendors
About the Brass Festival
January 16, 2023
Creative Arts Center – School of Fine and Performing Arts
Wright State University
The Wright State University School of Fine and Performing Arts Brass Studios under the leadership of Stephen Wadsack, trumpet; Andrew Bass, 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 a day of music-making, master classes, and performances and we are excited to announce the 2023 Brass Festival will showcase your hosts, the Wright State University Brass Faculty.
The day will include an all day, in-person event open to all students with two or more years of playing experience and will include master classes, rehearsals, recital performances, and music vendors. Please see the schedule of events for further details. Additionally, 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 ($25) are described in the tabs below.
The festival is FREE and the end of day concert is open to the public.
Contact your hosts
- Stephen Wadsack, trumpet
- Andrew Bass, horn
- Gretchen McNamara, trombone
- Daniel Honaker, tuba
Registration Information
All brass festival events take place on the Dayton Campus of Wright State University in the School of Fine and Performing Arts, located in the Music Wing of the Creative Arts Center. The festival is FREE and the final performance of the day is open to the public. Please register by Friday, January 13th so we can be prepared in advance for the day.
Registration and Fees
- Brass Festival Participant – FREE - Register
- High School and Collegiate Solo Competition - $25 - Register
All participants under age 18 must submit a parent or guardian-signed Medical Consent and Liability Waiver (PDF) on the day of the event.
Solo Competition Information
Dates
- November 1, 2022 Registration Opens
- December 1, 2022 - Submission Deadline
- December 15, 2022 - The top five competitors in each division will be notified of their selection to perform in the finals round at the Brass Festival in January of 2023:
- January 16, 2023
- Each of the 10 finalists will perform live at the WSU Brass Festival and will receive a short, open masterclass after their performance.
- Announcement of the winner in each division will take place at the final concert of the festival.
Cash Prizes
- 1st place High School Division: $250 (Sponsored by Kincaid's Is Music)
- 1st place Collegiate Division: $500 (Sponsored by McCutcheon Music)
Entry Fee
- $25 – Solo Competition Entry Fee
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 16, 1998)
- Entrants may select a repertoire of their choice.
- High School entrants may select an etude in like kind to All-State Audition material
- High School entrants may perform selected repertoire with or without piano accompaniment.
- Collegiate Division entrants must perform with an accompanist if the repertoire selected calls for piano accompaniment.
- Selected repertoire must be 10 minutes in length or under.
- Movements of larger works will be accepted.
- The competition will take place in two rounds.
- Preliminary Round video recordings are due on December 1, 2022.
- The top five performers in each division will be notified on December 15, 2022 and will perform live at the WSU Brass Festival on January 16, 2023.
- For an additional fee, an accompanist will be provided for the finals round for the high school division only.
- Each finalist in both divisions will receive a short, open masterclass after their live performance.
- The winner of each division will be announced at the WSU Brass Festival closing recital.
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, 2022
- 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 (Title and Composer)
- Phone number
- Email address
- School
- Year in school
- DOB
- Major (Collegiate only)
Competition Judges: Wright State University Brass Faculty
Artists and Clinicians
Tentative Schedule of Events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
|
9–9:30 a.m. |
Registration Opens - Vendors Open |
|
9:30 a.m. |
Master Class I
|
| 10:30 a.m. | Festival Ensemble Rehearsals |
| 11:30 a.m. | Mass Brass Ensemble Rehearsal |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Solo Competition Finals Round (Open) |
| 1:00 p.m. | Master Class II (Special Clinic Topic) |
| 2:00 p.m. | Master Class III (Special Clinic Topic) |
| 3:00 p.m. | Master Class IV (Special Clinic Topic) |
| 4:00 p.m. | Break |
| 4:30 p.m. |
Vendors Close
|
On-Site Vendors
The following vendors will be on-site during the festival.
