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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
November 22, 2025
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 Matt Anklan, trumpet; Andrew Bass, horn; Gretchen McNamara, trombone; and Isaac Slavens, tuba and euphonium, are excited to host another festival for brass musicians from our region this year.
Each year, we bring to you a day of music-making, master classes, and performances, and we are excited to announce that the 2025 Brass Festival will showcase your hosts, the Wright State University Brass Faculty, and Tubist SSG Brandon Benson of the United States Army Band, Pershing’s Own.
The day will include an all-day event open to all students with three 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 host a single division solo competition for high school students. Competition rules, registration, and fees ($25) are described in the tabs below.
Contact Your Hosts
- Matt Anlkan, trumpet
- Andrew Bass, horn
- Gretchen McNamara, trombone
- Isaac Slavens, 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. Registration is currently open and all participants and competitors must register.
Registration and Fees
- High School Solo Competition and Festival Registration - $25
- Festival Participation Registration Fee - $25
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 7, 2025: Competition Video Submission Deadline
- November 14, 2025: The top five competitors will be notified of their selection to perform in the finals round at the Brass Festival on November 22, 2025.
- November 22, 2025
- Finalists will perform live in the Finals Round at the WSU Brass Festival. A schedule of performance times will be distributed two weeks before the festival.
- The announcement of the winner will take place at the final concert of the festival.
- Finalists will receive written comments from the judges' panel.
Prizes
- 1st place: $250 local music vendor certificate
- If the 1st place winner is a senior in high school, the student will receive acceptance to The School of Fine and Performing Arts for Fall 2026 and will be awarded a scholarship at a minimum of $2000 per year for four years ($8000 total) to study music.
- 2nd place: $100 local music vendor certificate
Entry Fee
- $25 (includes festival registration) – 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 High School Solo Competition is open to anyone currently in grades 9-12.
- Entrants may select a repertoire of their choice.
- Entrants are encouraged but not required to select from the OMEA Class A or B Solo list.
- Entrants may perform selected repertoire with or without piano accompaniment in the preliminary round recording.
- 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 November 7, 2025.
- The top three performers will be notified on November 14, 2025, and will perform live at the WSU Brass Festival on November 22, 2025.
- Finalists must perform with piano in the finals round if the required of the repertoire selection.
- An accompanist will be provided for the finals round if needed.
- The winner 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 November 7, 2025
- Your video should identify you by last name and instrument. For example: McNamara, trombone.
- No recording will be considered without the submission of the application fee
In your application email, please include with your recording link the following information:
- Name
- Instrument
- Repertoire (Title and Composer)
- Phone number
- Email address
- School
- Year in school
- DOB
Preliminary Round Competition Judges: Wright State University Brass Faculty
Artists and Clinicians
- SSG Brandon Benson
- Matt Anklan
- Andrew Bass
- Gretchen McNamara
- Isaac Slavens
Schedule of Events
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. |
Registration Opens |
| 9 a.m. | Welcome Introductions and Performances |
| 9:30 a.m. | Festival Mass Brass Ensemble Rehearsal #1 |
| 10:45 a.m. | Instrument-Specific Master Classes/Vendor Visits |
| Noon |
Lunch – Bring a packed lunch or buy lunch at “The Hangar” |
| 1 p.m. | Guest Artist Recital – SSG Brandon Benson United States Army Band Pershing’s Own |
| 2 p.m. | Mass Brass Ensemble Rehearsal #2 |
| 3 p.m. | Brandon Benson Master Class |
| 4 p.m. | Clinic #3 Picket Brass Mouthpieces |
| 5 p.m. | Break |
| 5:30 p.m. | Festival Closing Recital - Performace of Festival Choir |
