Brass students at Mississippi State University thrive in a student-centered and encouraging environment where they are equipped with the skills and experiences to succeed in their chosen career pursuits.
The brass faculty at MSU are professional musicians with extensive experience performing in symphony orchestras, wind bands, brass quintets, wind quintets, solo appearances, recording sessions, and other engagements. They each bring numerous years of experience to their weekly lessons and studio classes with music majors, music minors, and students majoring in other fields while participating in brass activities. Our brass faculty perform together for our students each semester in the MSU Faculty Brass Quintet and regularly present solo recitals as well.
Brass playing alumni from MSU have gone on to graduate school and careers in performance in military bands and symphony orchestras, in education as school band directors, in musical instrument repair, and in other music-related professions.
Students majoring in music, minoring in music, or majoring in unrelated fields are encouraged to take applied lessons and participate in ensembles within the brass area. Applied lessons are offered for either one half hour or one hour each week. Each weekly studio class builds upon weekly lessons with opportunities to perform for one’s peers and build camaraderie, masterclass presentations, and special topics and guest artists.
Chamber music is a key component of our activities as an area of study at MSU. Chamber music affords students the opportunity to take on leadership and collaborative roles in a friendly and supportive environment. These opportunities help strengthen each student’s overall musicianship, ensemble skills, and confidence in their abilities.
Chamber Music Performance Opportunities in the MSU Brass Area:
- Trumpet Consort
- Horn Choir
- Trombone Troupe
- HEAVY Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble
- Brass Quintets
- Wind Quintets
- Brass Ensembles
Additionally, brass students at MSU enjoy appearances from guest artists who inspire and enrich their educational experience through performances and masterclasses.
Recent Brass Area Guest Artists:
- Boston Brass
- Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet
- Kate Amrine, freelance trumpet artist, New York City, NY
- Brett Hodge, Principal Horn, Omaha Symphony
- Abbie Conant, former Principal Trombonist, Munich Philharmonic
- Øystein Baadsvik, Norwegian International Tuba Soloist
The MSU brass faculty wish to extend a warm welcome to students of all ability levels and backgrounds to visit us for a free lesson, a campus tour, to watch a rehearsal, to speak with current students, or to take in a performance. The MSU Faculty Brass Quintet are also available for school visits and public performances throughout the region. Exciting things are happening in our brass area!
For more information, please contact us below.
