*
banner

Rocky Mountain Brass Band Festival

Rocky Mountain Brassworks, Pikes Peak Brass Band, Colorado Brass
Conductors: Doug Harris, Debbie Baker, Randy Hoepker
PACE Center
Parker, Colorado, USA
Saturday, May 18th

The PACE Center is the home to a renowned 500-seat theater and a gem of a 250-seat amphitheater. Designed by the acclaimed architecture firm Semple Brown Design, it also offered a fine listening experience for a trio of well led ensembles for what was the 8th annual festival.

The evening opened with Rocky Mountain Brassworks, the oldest continuing brass band in Colorado, and which as a rule, does not compete. Here they delivered a fine set which included the elegant sounds of ‘Music for Greenwich’, a bold ‘Firestorm’ and an obvious crowd pleasing ‘Fire In the Blood’.

During ‘Beauty and the Beast’ their talented youth player Jack Burke was featured, whilst in ‘Basso Brazilio’ it was the turn of equally impressive Eb tuba Stephen Bollinger.

Grandstand stuff

They were followed by the Pikes Peak Brass Band, who opened with a dynamic flourish. Their choreographed entry to the sounds of Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s ‘Lake of Dreams’ was grandstand stuff and immediately captured the attention of the audience.

In what was a set of balanced contrast, they also provided a bubbling ‘Jubilee’ march and the Salvation Army work ‘Escape Velocity'. The reverentially played ‘Aspect of Praise’ by William Himes was one of the center pieces of the night.

In what was a set of balanced contrast, they also provided a bubbling ‘Jubilee’ march and the Salvation Army work ‘Escape Velocity'. The reverentially played ‘Aspect of Praise’ by William Himes was one of the center pieces of the night.

Classy

The final performance came with the NABBA Championship Section Colorado Brass, not quite two years of age, but still producing a wonderfully warm, mature tonality and crisp technique.

The opened with the fourth movement of NABBA test-piece ‘Partita’, before delighting the audience with the very British sentiments of ‘The Dam Busters’. ‘First Suite in Eb’ by Gustav Holst also allowed them to showcase their control and stylistic balance, before the joyfulness of ‘Beatles Medley for Brass Band’ arranged by David Ellis, a trombone player in the band closed things off.

It was classy, easy listening end to concert that reached out to an audience in a musically engaging manner. 

As the brass band movement gains more momentum in the United States, concerts like these will be vital for its sustainability and growth. More like these will do the job perfectly.  

Dr. Jim Fox

Support us for less than a cup of coffee...

4BR wants to ensure that the brass band movement remains vibrant and relevant. We also want to be able to question, challenge and critically examine those who run and play in it, producing high quality journalism that informs as well as entertains our readers.

So if like us you value a strong, independent perspective on the brass band world - then why not consider becoming a supporter and help make our future and that of a burgeoning brass band movement more secure.

So one less cappuccino then?

Support us    



Longridge Band - Anniversary Concert

Saturday 12 July • Longridge Civic Hall, 1 Calder Avenue, Longridge, Preston PR3 3HT


Haverhill Silver Band - Proms Concert - St Ives

Saturday 12 July • Hill Rise Park, St Ives PE27 6SP


The Hepworth Band - A Summer Proms Concert

Sunday 20 July • Hepworth United Sports Club, Far Lane, Hepworth, Holmfirth. HD9 1RN


Petworth Town Band - Ebernoe Horn Fair

Friday 25 July • Ebernoe Cricket Ground GU28 9LD


Petworth Town Band - Dorset House School Fete

Saturday 26 July • Dorset House School RH20 1PB


Ilkeston Brass

July 11 • We are looking for additional cornet players to join us – positions negotiable! Ilkeston Brass is a friendly 4th section band with a long history based in the SE of Derbyshire.


Olney Brass

July 11 • OLNEY BRASS currently seeking a talented player to fill the following vacancy, in order to strengthen their line up: Eb BASS. We're an ambitious and friendly 2nd section band, with a variety of contests, concerts & community events annually.


Olney Brass

July 10 • OLNEY BRASS currently seeking talented players to fill the following vacancies, in order to strengthen their line up: SOLO CORNETS. We're an ambitious and friendly 2nd section band, with a variety of contests, concerts & community events annually.


Jenny Gartside

Bsc Hons
Jeweller, brass band themed jewellery and pin badges


               

 © 2025 4barsrest.com Ltd