The Williams Brass Ensemble offers a uniquely collaborative experience–one more akin to that of a smaller chamber ensemble. Students are tasked with not only leading portions of rehearsals, but are also challenged to provide constructive feedback to further refine skills in musicianship and leadership. Brass instruments are capable of effectively exploring a very wide range of musical styles. The Brass Ensemble frequently performs arrangements of such diverse works, with recent programs having featured the keyboard music of J.S. Bach, the vocal music of Morten Lauridsen, and the orchestral music of Joan Tower and Modest Mussorgsky. Faculty members work closely with students interested in arranging, offering one-on-one feedback on techniques to both refine their works and to better tailor it to the ensemble. In addition to outsourcing its music, the Brass Ensemble also performs original works for brass instruments, having recently opened the Berkshire Symphony’s 2021-22 season with Giovanni Gabrieli’s Canzon septimi toni no. 2.
The Brass Ensemble performs two annual concerts (one per semester), and rehearses weekly on Tuesday evenings, from 6:45-8:30 in Chapin Hall.
Open to all interested brass players.
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