The VanderCook Dallas Brass Residency & Honor Band Festival
On Saturday, November 6, 2021, VanderCook College of Music will host a High School Honor Band featuring the Dallas Brass.
Students will participate in the following events:
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- 60-minute rehearsal with Alex Kaminsky, Director of Bands at VanderCook College of Music
- 60-minute rehearsal with the Dallas Brass
- 75-minute clinic led by the Dallas Brass
- 45-minute master class led by VanderCook's applied faculty
- Dinner provided
- Dallas Brass concert featuring the Festival Honor Band
Thank you to our sponsor Margaret Benson in honor of Stephen Benson, who is helping to bring this world-renowned group to VanderCook College of Music.
Nominations are closed.
Schedule
Location 3125 S Federal St, Chicago, IL 60616
Founded in Dallas, TX in 1983 by Michael Levine, the Dallas Brass has become one of America’s foremost musical ensembles. The group has established a unique blend of traditional brass instruments with a full complement of drums and percussion, which creates a performing entity of extraordinary range and musical challenges. The Dallas Brass repertoire includes classical masterpieces, Dixieland, swing, Broadway, Hollywood and patriotic music. In addition to their solo engagements, the Dallas Brass appears with symphony orchestras nationwide. Symphonic credits include the Cincinnati Pops conducted by Erich Kunzel, New York Pops conducted by Skitch Henderson, and the Philly Pops conducted by Peter Nero. The Dallas Brass has performed at Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and has toured overseas to Europe and the Far East. They have shared the stage with the late Bob Hope, have performed for Presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush, have appeared on the CBS “Early Show”, and their music has been used numerous times on the television show, “The Young & The Restless”.
The Dallas Brass has a strong dedication to working with young musicians. They have published two books of original small ensemble music for middle school and high students called Brass Grooves, and they have played a major role in helping launch Harmony Bridge — a community outreach program for student musicians. In addition, almost every public performance has a student component including a clinic and invitation for students to join them on stage for a selection on the Dallas Brass concert. Over 250,000 students have performed with Dallas Brass over the years. Find more about the ensemble on Facebook or Instagram and on our website – www.dallasbrass.com.
The Ensemble
Michael Levine (Director) is originally from St. Louis Park, MN. He first attended the University of Minnesota and then The Juilliard School, where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree. For three years he held the position of Assistant Principal Trombone in the Jerusalem (Israel) Symphony Orchestra. Michael founded the Dallas Brass in 1983 and played trombone in the group until 2015. He continues to serve as the ensemble’s Master of Ceremonies and Artistic Director. Michael has recently created a program called Harmony Bridge, which is designed to connect school band students with people in senior communities around the country. At present, Harmony Bridge has been incorporated into elementary, middle and high school band programs in 17 states and in Finland. After living in Dallas for over 30 years, Michael now resides back in Minneapolis, MN.
Buddy Deshler (Trumpet), a native of Fredericksburg, VA, holds a Bachelor of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the University of Miami, a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Institute, and is completing his Doctor of Music degree from Arizona State University. As an Educational Ambassador and Performing Artist for XO Brass, Denis Wick, Smith Watkins cornets, Hercules Stands, and Torpedo Bags, Buddy travels the country as a soloist and clinician for music programs in middle schools, high schools, and universities. He serves as CEO, Co-Founder, and Artistic Director of Brass Institutes of America, a nonprofit organization of summer chamber music festivals that brings world-class instruction and performances to young brass players and communities. When not on the road, Buddy resides in Potsdam, NY where he serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam.
Garrett Klein (Trumpet), from Port Orchard, WA, studied at St. Olaf College (B.M.) and Arizona State University (M.M., D.M.A). As an endorsing artist for Conn-Selmer Garrett proudly plays Bach Stradivarius trumpets. He has performed with the New World Symphony, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, Tucson Symphony, and extensively with The Phoenix Symphony. As an enthusiastic proponent of new music, Garrett has twice been invited to present new compositions at International Trumpet Guild Conferences. Garrett has held teaching positions at St. Olaf College and Gustavus Adolphus College, both in Minnesota. He is currently on faculty at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. When not touring or teaching, he and his wife, Mara, enjoy hiking, trail running, exploring the beautiful outdoors, and traveling to parts unknown.
Juan Berrios (Horn; Alto Horn; Flugelhorn) — Originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Juan Berríos enjoys a multifaceted musical career. Known for his great versatility, he has performed with a wide variety of musical ensembles ranging from symphony and jazz orchestras to British-style brass bands as both ensemble performer and soloist. A passionate educator, Juan works with countless students of all ages across the country each year as a guest clinician, conductor, chamber music coach, marching band instructor, and private instructor. He holds degrees in horn performance and wind conducting from the University of Central Florida (B.M.) and University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory (M.M.) respectively. He is proud to be a Buffet Crampon Performing Artist and thoroughly enjoys making music on the Hans Hoyer K10 French Horn and Besson Prestige Eb Tenor Horn. Juan currently serves as Instructor of Horn at the Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts. When not teaching, performing, or touring with the Dallas Brass, Juan enjoys spending lots of time with his wife and fellow musician/music educator, Anielka, traveling, being a foodie, billiards, bowling, and listening to (loudly played) music of all types.
Ryan Christianson (Trombone) — Born to a musical family in Grand Forks, ND, Ryan began playing trombone at an early age. He currently lives in Chicago, IL with his wife, Sarah, where he enjoys a widely varied career as a freelance performer, educator, and arranger. As a performer, Ryan's freelance appearances range from performing with Diplo and Major Lazer to playing with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra to appearing on Shark Tank with the McNasty Brass Band to premiering new music with the Chicago Composers Orchestra. In addition to his freelance work, Ryan joined the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra after winning the position of Principal Trombone in 2018. Prior to graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2015, Ryan enjoyed success in international competitions and was selected as a finalist in the 2014 International Trombone Association Carl Fontana Competition, and received Honorable Mention in the 2012 ITA Kai Winding Competition. Ryan is an endorsing artist and clinician for Conn-Selmer instruments and Denis Wick mouthpieces and mutes.
Paul Carlson (Tuba)— Paul grew up in Illinois and began playing the tuba in his sixth-grade band. He has completed studies in tuba performance at the University of Illinois (B.M.), the University of New Mexico (M.M.), and at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (D.M.). His experience includes the New Mexico Brass Quintet, Santa Fe Symphony Brass Quintet, The King’s Brass, the Walt Disney Collegiate All-Star Band, Harvey Phillips Tuba Company, as well as a number of symphony orchestras. Paul has also been a featured soloist at International and Regional Tuba Euphonium Conferences. He is Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. Paul is a Buffet Group USA Tuba Artist performing on Besson, B&S, and Meinl Weston tubas.
Josh Carlson (Percussion) — no relation to Paul Carlson — is from Plymouth, MN and is a freelance percussionist/drummer in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Gustavus Adolphus College, where he studied percussion with Bob Adney, timpani with Peter Kogan, and drum set with Dave Hanzel. He then spent six years touring with country artist Jacob Martin. Josh’s varied performing experiences include South Dakota Symphony, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Sinfonia, VocalEssence, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Minnesota Ballet, Houston Ballet, Minnesota Percussion Trio, Theater Latté Da, Irish heartthrobs Celtic Thunder, and Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. Josh endorses Infinity Drums, Pro Mark sticks, and Evans drumheads.