Boston Brass to bring Christmas spirit with holiday show

By MARCIE SCHELLHAMMER | Nov 24, 2016

 

We’re going to be joined by the choir from the university,” said Jeff Conner, trumpeter, and the last original band member. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

 

The band consists of Conner on trumpet, and Jose Sibaja, trumpet; Chris Castellanos, horn; Domingo Pagliuca, trombone; and Sam Pilafian, tuba. For this show, they will be joined by percussionist Dan Hostetler and vibraphonist Chuck Redd.

 

“It’s a full holiday program,” Conner said, adding the holiday arrangements will feature some holiday classics. He’s excited to be working with students at the concert, saying advocacy is an important part of what Boston Brass does.

 

He knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a life in music, and credits his teachers for helping to make that happen.

 

“Every concert I make a point of thanking my middle and high school band directors,” Conner said. “They gave me the support and encouragement to start my career.”

 

Continuing that support for young musicians is an important legacy for Boston Brass, he said.

 

“It is incredibly important for college students to understand that music is a business,” he added, saying many college programs today give students “the tools to help them facilitate their career.”

 

And that career is a blessing when you are doing what you love, Conner added.

“Getting to do what you love, getting to do your passion, getting to spend time with four of the best brass players in the world — it’s amazing,” he said.

 

“The concerts we do, the advocacy for musical education, collaborations with everything from individual musicians to wind ensembles, we do half-time shows with college marching bands, we play with orchestras,” Conner said. “We just had a collaboration in Singapore with a symphony. You get to stretch your musical muscles.

 

“I love being on the road and I love being able to give music to people.”

Anyone interested in a musical career should strive to see live performances.

“When people come to any concert, it’s a serious thing for us because people want to escape their everyday lives, they want to be entertained, they want that experience of live music,” he said. “It’s important to hear live music. I don’t think that’s stressed upon enough, that firsthand experience.”

 

He told of taking his son to a performance of Tower of Power. His son, a budding trumpet player who had to be reminded to practice, went home at 11 p.m. after the show and started practicing immediately.

 

“It’s very important for young musicians to always be listening to music and go and hear them play,” Conner said. “Hear musicians that are better than you. It can motivate you. It can excite you.”

 

Tickets for the show cost $22 for the public, $18 for faculty and staff, $10 for students and $5 for Pitt-Bradford students.