SEASON 19 was another great BLAST OF BRASS! Thank you to all students, parents, and faculty for bringing your best.
TAMUC staff and facilities were wonderful. Be sure to check out the music department at www.tamuc.edu/music
TAMUC staff and facilities were wonderful. Be sure to check out the music department at www.tamuc.edu/music
Celebrate our 20th Season with us next summer!
JULY 9 - 15, 2017 Summer Brass Camp
Hosted at Texas A&M University ~ Commerce
We will be posting our Featured and Guest Artists info this Fall. Keep watching!!!
It was a true pleasure to work and study with Mr. Jeffrey Nelsen, horn, at the 2016 BOB Conference.
He brought an outstanding level of playing, teaching, and performance training to the conference.
The faculty, staff, and students all benefited and look forward to working with you again soon! Thank you, Jeff.
He brought an outstanding level of playing, teaching, and performance training to the conference.
The faculty, staff, and students all benefited and look forward to working with you again soon! Thank you, Jeff.
FEATURED ARTIST 2016
JEFF NELSEN, horn
Jeff Nelsen is professor of horn at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and founder of Fearless Performance LLC, a company that focuses on training musicians and others to consistently perform their best. One of the many Canadian pig-farm-raised magician horn players in the world, he has thrilled audiences and mentored students for over 20 years.
Probably best known for the eight years he spent touring and recording with Canadian Brass, Nelsen has also performed concerti and chamber music on six continents, and in the horn sections of dozens of orchestras, including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, and the Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Montreal, and St. Louis symphonies.
Since giving his celebrated 2011 TEDx Talk about Fearless Performance, he has been training fellow TED Talk presenters, teachers, athletes, and business people in giving their own Fearless Performances. A huge Broadway musical fan, Nelsen played the premiere run of two Broadway shows that were nominated for Tony awards: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Sherman Brothers) and The Pirate Queen (Boublil and Schönberg). He has toured with popular entertainers including Barry Manilow and Michael Bolton, recorded with Michael Buble and the pop band Barenaked Ladies, and performed on dozens of movie and video game soundtracks. He most enjoys performing with his wife, mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen, on recital and orchestral pops series.
Nelsen gives back to the music community through his roles as president of the International Horn Society and as a member of the board of advisors for the International Horn Competition of America. Aside from creating musical magic, he is an enthusiastic magician and often adds touches of illusionary arts to performances. He recently reached a childhood dream of becoming a magician member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the world famous Magic Castle.
JEFF NELSEN, horn
Jeff Nelsen is professor of horn at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and founder of Fearless Performance LLC, a company that focuses on training musicians and others to consistently perform their best. One of the many Canadian pig-farm-raised magician horn players in the world, he has thrilled audiences and mentored students for over 20 years.
Probably best known for the eight years he spent touring and recording with Canadian Brass, Nelsen has also performed concerti and chamber music on six continents, and in the horn sections of dozens of orchestras, including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, and the Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Montreal, and St. Louis symphonies.
Since giving his celebrated 2011 TEDx Talk about Fearless Performance, he has been training fellow TED Talk presenters, teachers, athletes, and business people in giving their own Fearless Performances. A huge Broadway musical fan, Nelsen played the premiere run of two Broadway shows that were nominated for Tony awards: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Sherman Brothers) and The Pirate Queen (Boublil and Schönberg). He has toured with popular entertainers including Barry Manilow and Michael Bolton, recorded with Michael Buble and the pop band Barenaked Ladies, and performed on dozens of movie and video game soundtracks. He most enjoys performing with his wife, mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen, on recital and orchestral pops series.
Nelsen gives back to the music community through his roles as president of the International Horn Society and as a member of the board of advisors for the International Horn Competition of America. Aside from creating musical magic, he is an enthusiastic magician and often adds touches of illusionary arts to performances. He recently reached a childhood dream of becoming a magician member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the world famous Magic Castle.
GUEST ARTISTS
The CoolBrass Jazztet was born out of an original concept for a brass quintet with drums comprised of top notch jazz performers. The conceptual inspiration came from two sources: the landmark Birth of the Cool album by Miles Davis from the late 1950’s, and John’s experiences touring as a Tuba performer with the Dallas Brass.
The Jazztet’s repertoire includes many arrangements of works from that Miles Davis recording as well as several other songs from the cool period in jazz history. Rounding out the library are found many newer jazz classics as well as original works written for the group.
The group has performed for various social functions, conferences, festivals, and jazz club venues over the years. The group recorded its first CD, The New Cool, in 2012. The players in the group include: Micah Bell and Pete Clagett, trumpets and flugelhorns, Carl Lundgren and John Allen, trombones, John Wasson on Tuba, and Jaelun Washington on Drums.
The Jazztet’s repertoire includes many arrangements of works from that Miles Davis recording as well as several other songs from the cool period in jazz history. Rounding out the library are found many newer jazz classics as well as original works written for the group.
The group has performed for various social functions, conferences, festivals, and jazz club venues over the years. The group recorded its first CD, The New Cool, in 2012. The players in the group include: Micah Bell and Pete Clagett, trumpets and flugelhorns, Carl Lundgren and John Allen, trombones, John Wasson on Tuba, and Jaelun Washington on Drums.
JOHN WASSON is an award-winning composer, arranger, performer and conductor. As a bass trombonist and tubist John has performed and toured with the Stan Kenton and Woody Herman Orchestras, the Dallas Brass, The Dallas Symphony, and the Fort Worth Opera Orchestra. He has worked with such notable performers as Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr, Michael Bolton, Bob Hope, Liza Minelli, Nelson Riddle, Frank Sinatra Jr, Joe Williams, and the Dukes of Dixieland.
As a composer and arranger, his works have been performed by such diverse groups as the Chicago Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Gatlin Brothers, the U. S. Air Force Airmen of Note, and the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps. He has also written film, television and commercial music for such clients as National Geographic, the United Way, Radio Shack, EDS, and the Salvation Army. His many published works can be found in the catalogs of Hal Leonard, Barnhouse, Warner Brothers/Alfred Music, and Praise Charts.
John received both undergrad and graduate degrees from UNT, where he played in the acclaimed One O’Clock Lab Band under the direction of Leon Breeden and Neil Slater. John resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where he performs with his own Strata Big Band and CoolBrass Jazztet. He currently holds the position of Worship Director at his local church and continues to create music for various sacred music settings.
Today’s modern musical landscape is crowded with many artists, each striving to make their voice stand out in the crowd. To meet the demands and challenges to making a living in the music world, it is critical for the young musician to develop skills and experiences in a variety of disciplines, including performing, conducting, writing and arranging, producing, and teaching while being versed in many styles and genres of music. Mr. Wasson will discuss these various outlets and outline a comprehensive plan to help build a broad and successful career in music and the arts.
As a composer and arranger, his works have been performed by such diverse groups as the Chicago Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Gatlin Brothers, the U. S. Air Force Airmen of Note, and the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps. He has also written film, television and commercial music for such clients as National Geographic, the United Way, Radio Shack, EDS, and the Salvation Army. His many published works can be found in the catalogs of Hal Leonard, Barnhouse, Warner Brothers/Alfred Music, and Praise Charts.
John received both undergrad and graduate degrees from UNT, where he played in the acclaimed One O’Clock Lab Band under the direction of Leon Breeden and Neil Slater. John resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where he performs with his own Strata Big Band and CoolBrass Jazztet. He currently holds the position of Worship Director at his local church and continues to create music for various sacred music settings.
Today’s modern musical landscape is crowded with many artists, each striving to make their voice stand out in the crowd. To meet the demands and challenges to making a living in the music world, it is critical for the young musician to develop skills and experiences in a variety of disciplines, including performing, conducting, writing and arranging, producing, and teaching while being versed in many styles and genres of music. Mr. Wasson will discuss these various outlets and outline a comprehensive plan to help build a broad and successful career in music and the arts.
BLAST OF BRASS Ensemble
Designed to be a demonstration ensemble for the conference, this ensemble sets the standard for the conference. Every year we perform a major concert featuring that year's Featured Artist as a soloist and ensemble member. The BOB Ensemble consist of 4-6 trumpet, 4 horn, 4 trombone, euphonium, 2 tuba, and percussion.
Members include major artists from around the Dallas / Ft. Worth area...including members from the Dallas Opera Orchestra, Dallas Wind Symphony and many other top ensembles.
BLAST OF BRASS in CONCERT and featuring JEFF NELSEN, horn
July 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Finney Concert Hall
Texas A&M University in Commerce
Tickets: $15.00
Designed to be a demonstration ensemble for the conference, this ensemble sets the standard for the conference. Every year we perform a major concert featuring that year's Featured Artist as a soloist and ensemble member. The BOB Ensemble consist of 4-6 trumpet, 4 horn, 4 trombone, euphonium, 2 tuba, and percussion.
Members include major artists from around the Dallas / Ft. Worth area...including members from the Dallas Opera Orchestra, Dallas Wind Symphony and many other top ensembles.
BLAST OF BRASS in CONCERT and featuring JEFF NELSEN, horn
July 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM
Finney Concert Hall
Texas A&M University in Commerce
Tickets: $15.00
BLAST OF BRASS and BOB STUDENT MASS CHOIR!
