Thursday, January 17, 2008 - Sword has now joined with Spires Brass Band

The Spires Brass Band is a traditional British style brass band. This means that the band uses cornets instead of trumpets, tenor horns instead of French horns, flugelhorn, euphoniums and baritones, and Eb and Bb tubas, as well as percussion.

The band's name is derived from the Clustered Spires of Frederick, that were immortalized by John Greenleaf Whittier in his poem "Barbara Fritchie."

The band is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Any contributions to the band are tax deductible.

The band is supported by concert gate receipts, grants from the Frederick Arts Council, the Maryland Arts Council, and generous individual donors. The band also receives corporate support from Merrill Lynch and Woodsboro Bank.

The Spires Brass Band was organized in 1993 by its music director John Slezak. It was organized to enrich the cultural life of the community by performing traditional and contemporary brass band music in accord with the highest standards of excellence and to give its members the opportunity to participate in music making of the highest caliber.

The band annually performs a series of four formal concerts in Frederick, Maryland, and also performs several hymn concerts at area churches. Additionally, the band performs for civic functions throughout the year, competes in the NABBA North American Brass Band Championships and participates annually in the Gettysburg Brass Band Festival.

Highlights of the band's 14 year history include performing on the Today show in 1995, with Willard Scott, as part of the 250th Anniversary of the City of Frederick. In 2001, the band entered its first NABBA Championship contest in the Challenge Section and won 1st place. The band also won the Challenge Section Championship in 2003 and 2005. In the seven years the band has competed in NABBA it has won 3 championships, 2 second places, 1 third place and 1 fourth place. The band was chosen in 2006 to perform for the Maryland Music Educators Annual State Conference in Baltimore.

Guest artists who have performed with the Spires include trumpeters Allen Vizzutti, Vince DiMartino, Gabriel DiMartino and Chris Jaudes, trombonist Herb Bruce, tubists Marty Erickson and Stacy Baker. The band also featured mezzo soprano vocalists Tracie Luck and Sara Dell'Omo, and baritone Kevin Bennear. Also performing as a member and guest conductor with the band was noted composer and arranger Stephen Bulla.

 

http://www.nabba.org		North American Brass Band Association site for information on member bands, competitions and other acitivites.
http://www.ibew.co.uk		The most comprehensive brass band site for brass bands around the world.
http://www.4barsrest.com		Online brass band magazine