THE UNION BRASS

Each year, the College of Music at Michigan State University selects the top candidates in each brass studio—trumpet, horn, trombone, and tuba—to form a brass quintet. The result? The Union Brass. The Union Brass was officially formed in the fall of 2013 by Professors Richard Illman, Corbin Wagner, Ava Ordman, and Phillip Sinder. The group will spend the next four years together making music and performing. The quintet is coached by Professor of Trumpet, Richard Illman. 

 

The group is proudly affiliated with the Michigan State University College of Music. They rehearse several times a week and perform both within the College of Music and in the Lansing area. The Union Brass plays a variety of music including jazz, modern, and classical styles among which include Malcolm Arnold's Quintet No. 1, Just A Closer Walk, and even Forget You by Cee Lo Green.

 

The name "Union Brass" came unique to the quintet. It signifies a union between the group members and their friendships. They also spend most of their time at the Union Building at Michigan State...

 

The Union Brass plans to tour many schools across the state of Michigan promoting music in the public schools. For a full list of event venues, please visit Events Lineup. Along with these endeavors, the group is committed to maintaining a high level of performance and plans to enter in competitions such as the Fischoff Competition.

 

When not rehearsing, The Union Brass can be found playing basketball at the local gym or pigging out at the Union.