The Brass Department at the University of Puget Sound offers a full spectrum of opportunities for both collegiate and pre-collegiate student brass players. Students have the opportunity to perform in a wide range of ensembles including orchestra, wind ensemble, brass choir, chamber ensembles, jazz ensemble and combos, and theater orchestra. Students have graduated from our department to attend graduate school at institutions such as Manhattan School of Music, Northwestern University, University of Oregon, Eastman, and the University of Washington. They have participated in major festivals such as the Aspen Music Festival. Students in the pre-collegiate division have won or placed in concerto competitions sponsored be the Northwest Sinfonietta and the Tacoma Youth Symphony, have been finalists in the Music Teachers' National Associate National Solo Competition, Washington Music Educators Association solo/ensemble competitions and have won or placed in the Washington Music Educators Association state competitions.

The faculty bring years of teaching and performing experience to the studio. They have performed with numerous ensembles including the symphony orchestras of Seattle, Auburn, Eugene, Tacoma, and Virginia, the philharmonic orchestras of Hong Kong, Mexico City and Bellevue, the opera companies of Seattle and Boston, the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) and Bolshoi ballet orchestras, and the Fifth Avenue and Paramount theater orchestras, among many others. Our brass faculty can be heard on numerous recordings, including Seattle Symphony recordings, rock recordings and major motion pictures.

 

The School of Music also invites guest artists to teach and perform on campus. Previous guests have included such brass luminaries as:

  • Rolf Smedvig (trumpet, Empire Brass)
  • Ingrid Jenson (trumpet)
  • Arturo Sandavol (trumpet)
  • Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet)
  • Maynard Ferguson (trumpet)
  • Wynton Marsaelis (trumpet)
  • David Gordon (trumpet, Seattle Symphony Orchestra)
  • Neal Berntsen (trumpet, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Puget Sound alumnus)
  • Stuart Dempster (trombone, soloist/sound artist)
  • Patrick Sheridan ( tuba, soloist/ Marine Band).

If you are interested in becoming involved at Puget Sound or would like more information, please contact the brass department.

BRASS FACULTY

Dr. Gerard Morris, Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of Music
Rodger Burnett, French Horn
Ryan Schultz, Tuba/Euphonium
Judson Scott, Trumpet
David Krosschell,Trombone

 

ENSEMBLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRASS STUDENTS