Bourgie Hall presents
In collaboration with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

A Festival of Brass

Five musicians from the OSM join forces to introduce you to the rich sonic palette of brass instruments. Warm, brilliant, deep or powerful, these instruments will showcase five modern-day composers in either original works or transcriptions.

Artists
Paul Merkelo, trumpet

Paul Merkelo began playing music at the age of 10. He later studied trumpet at the Eastman School of Music and at the University of Illinois with Charles Geyer, Phil Smith and Ray Sasaki. He will always remember playing under the direction of Leonard Bernstein when he was a student at Tanglewood Music Center. Paul Merkelo joined the OSM in 1995 and his fondest memories with Kent Nagano are of recording the album French Trumpet Concertos. An extraordinarily skilled trumpet player, Paul Merkelo regularly performs in recital and as a soloist under renowned conductors throughout the world. He also currently teaches at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara (CA) and at McGill University.

Catherine Turner, horn

Originally from Ohio, Catherine Turner began learning horn at age 10 in her school’s music program. She later went on to study with Karen Schneider, Greg Snyder, William VerMeulen at Rice University (TX) and John Zirbel. In addition to her appointment with the OSM, she serves as Principal Horn with the Colorado Music Festival and teaches at McGill University.

James Box, trombone

James Box caught the music bug watching military bands in his childhood. His grandfather, who conducted a brass band, was his first teacher. At the age of 15, James joined the Memphis Youth Symphony and went on to study at the Southern Methodist University and the Cleveland Institute of Music with Marta Hofacre, John Kitzman, James DeSano, and Steve Witser. His first concert with the OSM comprised a performance of Ravel’s Bolero, in which he held down the famous trombone solo part. In addition to his performance career, James Box teaches trombone at McGill University.

Robert Weymouth, trumpet

Austin Howle, tuba

Program
Lauren BERNOFSKY Suite for Brass Quintet
Fernando MORAIS Suite Brasileira for Brass Quintet
Michael TILSON THOMAS Street Song
BERNSTEIN West Side Story, Suite for Brass (arr. Emil Smedvig)

Friday, September 29, 2023 at 6:30pm
To purchase your tickets visit: www.mbam.qc.ca/en/bourgie-hall/