Dallas Brass - Booking Dates For 2015

http://mi2n.com/press.php3?press_nb=180148

Since its founding 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.

MICHAEL LEVINE (director, trombone) is originally from St. Louis Park, Minnesota. 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 Symphony Orchestra. Michael founded the Dallas Brass in 1983, and he serves as the ensemble’s trombonist, Master of Ceremonies and Artistic Director. As an arranger, he has made significant contributions to the Dallas Brass library. Michael has invented a device called the WindMaster, to help wind players develop their breathing technique. More recently, he has created the Harmony Bridge Project which is designed to connect band and other music students with seniors in nursing homes around the country. Michael’s favorite non-musical activity is snow skiing. He has duel residency in Dallas, TX and Minneapolis, MN.

Luis Miguel Araya (Trumpet) born in Alajuela, Costa Rica, has played a wide range of musical styles, ranging from classical to popular and Latin music. He has studied music extensively both in Costa Rica and in the United States, holding a Bachelor of Music degree from the National Institute of Music (Costa Rica), a Master of Music degree from Loyola University in New Orleans and a Doctorate in Music from Arizona State University. Luis has been a member of the Costa Rica National Symphony Orchestra since 1997. He is also on the faculty of the University of Costa Rica. Other orchestral experiences include the Venezuela Symphony Orchestra, the Miami Symphony Orchestra, and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Other festivals attended by Araya are the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute (Denver, CO), and a Solo recital at the International Trumpet Guild Conference 2005 in Bangkok, Thailand.

D.J. Barraclough (Trumpet) began his musical studies on the trombone and continued playing it through high school. He didn't actually begin the trumpet until his 3rd year in college. Originally from southern Utah, D.J. attended Dixie State College in St. George. He has performed with such organizations as the Utah Symphony, the Lex De Azevedo Orchestra, and the Lawrence Welk Orchestra. When not performing, D.J. enjoys working as a brass clinician, and through the use of the Smart Music Studio software by Coda Music Technologies, he helps young students learn to make practice more effective and fun. D.J. is also an accomplished instrument repair technician. His other interests include hiking, camping, and various forms of meditation. D.J. presently lives in southern Utah with his wife, Kristine, and their six children.

Juan Berrios (horn, tenor horn, flugelhorn) is originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico. He has a degree in horn performance from the University of Central Florida, where he was the recipient of several awards including the Presser Foundation Scholarship and the Performance Excellence Award. For three years, Juan was a member of the award-winning Brass Band of Central Florida, one of the top-ranked brass bands in the United States. Serving as the band’s solo tenor horn player, he was a featured soloist on numerous occasions and can be heard on the band's album "10th Anniversary." Juan has spent summers at some of the most prestigious music festivals in the country, including the Music Academy of the West and the Aspen Music Festival and School. Active as an educator and performer in the Central Florida area, Juan works with many middle and high schools serving as a private instructor and guest clinician, and performs with professional organizations such as the Sarasota Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, Brevard Symphony, and Palm Beach Symphony, among others.

Juan lives in Kissimmee, FL and enjoys spending time with his fiancée, cooking and bowling when not touring with the Dallas Brass.

Paul Carlson (Tuba) from Macomb, IL, has an extensive educational resume. He has degrees from the University of Illinois (B.M.), University of New Mexico (M.M.), and is presently working on his Doctorate in Tuba Performance at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. As an music educator, Paul has taught on the middle school, high school and college levels. He was a Graduate Assistant at the University of New Mexico and has served on the faculty of the Blue Lake Arts Camp in northern Michigan. Performance experience includes the New Mexico Brass Quintet, Santé Fe Symphony Brass Quintet, the national touring group —The King’s Brass, the Walt Disney Collegiate All-Star Band (Orlando), and symphony orchestras including New Mexico, Albuquerque, and Louisville. Paul is also an accomplished jazz bass player — both upright and electric — and does various jazz gigs in and around Indianapolis.

CHRIS MCWILLIAMS (drums/percussion) is originally from Philadelphia, PA. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Central Florida and is completing his Doctoral Degree in Percussion Performance as a Graduate Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas, where he also received his Master’s Degree in 2011. He has recently performed with the UNT Percussion Ensemble and 2:00 Steel Band at the 2009 and 2012 Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, and on 2011 and 2013 European tours, in addition to serving as principle percussionist with the UNT Wind Symphony for three years. Chris has also performed for two years as a student musician in Walt Disney World, and has won the UCF Performance Excellence Competition, as well as performed with Dame Evelyn Glennie as a member of the 2007 International Youth Wind Orchestra in Killarney, Ireland, and as a member of the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005. In addition to his teaching duties at UNT, Chris is Percussion Co-Caption Head for The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, and has worked with multiple high schools in both the Orlando and Dallas/Fort Worth areas. Chris currently resides in the Dallas, TX area.

Website: www.dallasbrass.com | Mobile: www.aboutdallasbrass.com

ArtistWorks Gives Aspiring Classical Musicians A Competitive Edge With Launch Of New Classical Music Campus

The highly anticipated ArtistWorks Classical Music Campus will launch on September 19th it was announced today. This first-ever online, interactive classical music school features unparalleled, classical music instruction from world-renowned teaching artists in five core orchestral instruments including flute, trumpet, clarinet, violin and french horn. Also included in the new Classical Campus are current ArtistWorks classical piano and classical guitar schools.

ArtistWorks Classical Campus teaching artists include Jeffrey Kahner (Principal Flutist, Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute); David Bilger (Principal Trumpet, Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute); Ricardo Morales (Principal Clarinetist, Philadelphia Orchestra, Curtis Institute, Juilliard, Temple University); Bill Caballero (Principal French Horn, Pittsburgh Orchestra, Carnegie Mellon University School of Music), Nathan Cole [Violin, First Associate Concertmaster, Los Angeles Philharmonic] as well as guitarist Jason Vieaux (Curtis Institute, Cleveland Institute of Music) and pianist Christie Peery Skousen (Peabody Institute).

Providing personalized online feedback via ArtistWorks’ Video Exchange™ Accelerated Learning Platform, the ArtistWorks Classical Music Campus orchestral teaching artists are all principal performers within their respective orchestras. In addition, most are instructors at various ultra exclusive music schools including Juilliard, Curtis Institute and the Carnegie Mellon University School of Music among others. Previously, direct access to these prestigious teaching artists was virtually unobtainable, owing to the fact that admissions to most of these top-flight schools afford the opportunity to study directly with these virtuoso artists to fewer than 10 students per year.

Designed for aspiring classical musicians, the ArtistWorks Classical Campus provides core curriculum in the form of video lessons, covering the essential playing habits that build top-flight technique for all levels of players. Most importantly, these video lessons cover the etudes, and orchestral excerpts that musicians need to perfect for competitions or university, conservatory or professional orchestra auditions. In addition to video lessons representing the teaching artists life’s work, subscribing students can use their webcam, phone or other video device to show their instructor their progress. The teaching artists then provide personalized video responses with critique and comment on technique as well as priceless insight and the “inside track” on what is required in the highly competitive audition process. These interactions are available for all students to see and learn from. This new online approach represents a virtual master class where every participant gets personalized attention from the master.

Subscriptions to the ArtistWorks Classical Campus Orchestral schools are reasonably priced at $299 for 3 months, $499 for six months and $699 for 9 months. Subscriptions to classical guitar and classical piano schools are priced at $90.00 for 3 months, $150.00 for 6 months and $240.00 for a 12-month subscription.


About ArtistWorks, Inc.

Founded in 2008 by former AOL executive David Butler, ArtistWorks, Inc. is a Napa California-based technology and music education company that provides a global online learning community of world-renowned artists and enthusiastic amateurs dedicated to unleashing the music that lies within all of us. Its Video Exchange Accelerated Learning Platform enables virtuoso musicians to "teach the world" by presenting their full method, technique or lesson list in HD video to subscribing students. Utilizing simple web cams, iPhones, iPads and more, students are able to submit videos for individualized video feedback and guidance - creating a two-way, online learning experience

ArtistWorks currently offers schools from such world-class, virtuoso artists as: Paul Gilbert (rock guitar lessons); Martin Taylor (fingerstyle guitar lessons); Jason Vieaux (Classical guitar lessons); Andreas Oberg (jazz guitar lessons); Nathan East (pop & rock bass lessons), John Patitucci (jazz bass lessons), Howard Levy (harmonica lessons); DJ Qbert (DJ lessons); Christie Peery (piano lessons); Thomas Lang (rock drum lessons); Billy Cobham (jazz and fusion drum lessons); Luis Conte (percussion lessons); as well as the ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass with Tony Trischka (banjo lessons); Missy Raines (double bass lessons); guitar player Bryan Sutton (flatpick guitar lessons); Andy Hall (dobro lessons); Mike Marshall (mandolin lessons); and Darol Anger (fiddle lessons).

For additional information please visit: www.artistworksclassical.com.

Local Texas Artist Deborah Wedekind Enjoys Top Honors on Singer Universe

Local recording artist and performer, Deborah Wedekind, who lives in the North Houston area, is currently featured with a photo, on the Singer Universe website's home page at: www.singeruniverse.com, as a National Top 5 Vocalist Finalist for January 2012! Her original song, "Psalm on Danny Boy", placed her in the Top 5 due to Deborah's beautiful vocals, haunting lyrics and unique arrangement. She also won a Top 5 spot nationally with Singer Universe in their December 2011 Best Vocalist contest, for her unique arrangement of "I Dreamed a Dream", recently made popular by British singer Susan Boyle. In Deborah's more Adult Contemporary version, she creates a stunningly beautiful counter melody in the orchestral strings which depict the longing and suffering of the lead character, Fantine, while creating a lighter vocal line that flows "…with much more of a Pop feel" than prior versions. Deborah recorded her CD, Clear Skies Ahead, which released in November 2011, with Producer, Troy Warren, Jr., at Absolute Sound studios in Houston. Troy ranks Deborah's CD as his top project in over 30 years of working in sound production. Since its release, here is what This is Kingwood has to say about Deborah: "...Deborah could and probably should be lumped in more with classic artists like Astrud Gilberto (Girl from Impanema), Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney and Lena Horne. She's that good. Her silky smooth voice stays somehow young and fresh while exhibiting a classically trained experience one can only gain from being, well, that good. If you get a chance to check out one of her local performances, do yourself a favor and make the effort, you'll be glad you did." Additionally, Deborah's original sexy-Latin arrangement of the classic, "Till There Was You", is currently in the Broadjam.com Top 10 Latin songs chart worldwide, and on Feb. 19th, 2012, it reached #2 on the Top 10 Latin Jazz world chart. Her "Psalm on Danny Boy" also remains on Broadjam's Top 10 World Chart, and has been since January 2012. (Broadjam is a site for aspiring singers and songwriters music industry professionals and fans from around the world, and has many thousands of members.) Deborah is also excited to have been recently asked to be the lead female singer for the Billie Ledbetter Band and Orchestra, Houston's #1 Dance Band. This will give Deborah many more opportunities to showcase her talents and bring her unique vocals, arrangements and compositions to the greater Houston and South Texas area. Deborah Wedekind is available now for bookings, along with her world-class band. Please visit www.deborahwedekind.com for an EPK, booking one sheet, or to hear her music. indieExtreme, with offices in Houston, TX, and Nashville, TN, represents musicians ranging from folk legend Judy Collins, to 7 year-old singer and Disney actress, Kaitlyn Maher. Deborah's Diva Prince Productions, is a client label with indieExtreme. The firm partners with INgrooves for digital distribution and marketing, along with providing label services such as marketing, publicity, social media management, management consulting, music licensing and online marketing systems to independent labels. To learn more about indieExtreme, please visit http://www.indieextreme.com. Website: http://www.deborahwedekind.com/

"Victory Of The Spirit" Gets The Music Press Attention And Praise

Marc Beziat is a composer. His music is inspirational, and based on a free classical form, ranging from uncluttered sonatas to full choral and orchestral pieces.

His first album, "Victory of the Spirit" has been released in 2008.

Some press reviews' excerpts :

"The release of this CD is indeed a victory of the creative spirit"
John Brodeur

"While there are no words in these "sung" parts, they are among the most beautiful and enriching songs on Victory Of The Spirit"
Wildy Haskell

"His work is never unpleasant, usually captivating and always a complete joy to listen to"
Brennig Jones

More information is available on http://marcbeziat.net
http://apps.facebook.com/ilike/artist/Marc+B%C3%A9ziat