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River City Brass Band A modern sound with deep roots
IF YOU GO
What: River City Brass Band
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday
Where: Stambaugh Auditorium
Tickets: $15-$25; call 330-259-0555
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
The brass band holds a unique place in the world of concert music.
Tracing its roots to Industrial Revolution-era England, the ensembles keep it lively and fast-paced, but with top-level musicianship.
Consisting of cornet, flugelhorn, trombone, baritone, euphonium and tuba — with some percussion — the orchestras have a showy sound.
Their repertoire can include everything from classical masterworks to traditional marches, pop music to Big Band swing, and Broadway to Hollywood.
River City Brass Band is quite likely the nation’s premiere brass band — and its only professional one.
The Pittsburgh-based RCBB, founded in 1981, will come to Stambaugh Auditorium on Thursday night for a concert.
Brian Kiser, a professor of euphonium at the Dana School of Music at Youngstown State University, is a member of the 28-piece RCBB. But he’s not the only member with Youngstown connections; John Olsson, a trombone instructor at Dana, and Randy Bibri, a recent Dana graduate, play trombone with the ensemble.
Kiser has been with RCBB since 2006, starting as a substitute and becoming a full-time member in 2009.
He is eager to introduce the brass band to Youngstown.
“You are sure to find something that you enjoy and can relate to,” he said.
The concert will feature soloists from within the band, as well as original pieces composed and arranged by members.
The tunes are generally shorter than what you would hear at a symphony concert, which allows for a wider variety of music to be performed.
Audiences should expect to have a blast. “The audience is encouraged to applaud and have a great time,” said Kiser.
“The shows are very entertaining,” he continued. “Being fast paced and energetic, I encourage families to attend, and especially music students. The virtuosic elements can be very inspiring. My 4-year-old daughter is looking forward to attending the concert with several of my tuba and euphonium students from YSU.”
Conductor James Gourlay, a native of Scotland, punctuates the evening with witty comments about the pieces.
“His Scottish background and international travels lead to interesting and humorous anecdotes,” said Kiser.
The RCBB performs a 56-concert series in eight western Pennsylvania venues each year. It also tours extensively throughout the United States with more than 20 performances as part of community concert series, symphony pops series, and arts festivals.
“I hope that the band can perform more frequently at Stambaugh,” said Kiser. “It’s a wonderful venue for this type of ensemble.”