By Staff
NILES - The Southwestern Michigan College Brass Band is the first performance of the Niles Wednesday Summer Concert Series.
The band, which is headed by director and founder Dr. Jonathan Korzun, will begin playing at 6 p.m. on the amphitheater at Riverfront Park tonight.
The Southwestern Michigan College Brass Band was founded in January of 1992 by its current director, Dr. Jonathan Korzun, chair of Fine and Performing Arts and Director of Bands at SMC. It is composed of area band directors, community members and SMC students.
It is a British-style ensemble, modeled after the brass bands so popular throughout Europe.
The Brass Band is one of three bands at SMC. The other two are the Symphonic Band and Jazz Ensemble, both student groups.
The Brass Band gives regular performances both on- and off-campus.
Off-campus performances have included the band's annual June concerts at the Niles Riverfront Amphitheater and at area high school
Holiday Concerts. The Brass Band has also performed at the Howard Band Shell in St. Joseph, the Southside Marina in South Haven, the Red Cedar Community Band Festival in Okemos, and the “Rhapsody in Green” festival in Elkhart, Ind.
Guest artists with the Brass Band have included Ed Shaughnessy, Clark Terry, Vincent DiMartino, Danny Barber and Phil Barham.
The SMC Brass Band commissioned a new work, “Symphonette,” by composer Stephen Bulla honoring the 30th anniversary of the first graduating class from SMC.
Since its publication, it has been widely performed in Europe and the United States. It as been recorded by the New York Staff Band of the Salvation Army on its CD titled “On a Hymnsong.” It has also been transcribed for concert band by the composer.
The SMC Brass band rehearses Wednesday nights on the Dowagiac Campus and its season runs from September through June.
For further information about the SMC Brass Band as well as Fine and
Performing Arts at SMC, contact: Dr. Jonathan Korzun, Chair, Department of Fine and Performing Arts (269) 782-1225 or email jkorzun@swmich.edu