HIGH POINT, N.C., Oct. 16, 2015 – High Point University will host the debut performance of the North Carolina Youth Brass Band at 3 p.m. on Nov. 1 in the Pauline Theatre of Hayworth Fine Arts Center. The performance is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.
The North Carolina Youth Brass Band is an auditioned ensemble of 30 high school brass players and percussionists from central North Carolina. The group is conducted by Dr. Brian Meixner, assistant professor of music at HPU, and is a program of the North Carolina Brass Band, a professional ensemble he founded in 2014.
The concert will include a number of pieces from the brass band repertoire, plus transcriptions of music for concert band and orchestra.
“We are excited to introduce a new all-star ensemble featuring talented high school musicians from this region of the state,” says Meixner. “Our debut concert at HPU will be a program showcasing the students’ talents as well as the capabilities of brass and percussion instruments.”
The group has been rehearsing weekly for the past two months. These sessions include opportunities for students to work closely on their instruments with professional musicians who serve as sectional coaches.
“Our rehearsals have been a great opportunity for the students to collaborate with one another and with professional musicians from the North Carolina Brass Band in a challenging style of ensemble that is not offered in school music programs,” Meixner says. “We hope the community will join us for the first performance of an ensemble that will serve young musicians in our area for years to come.”