CANYON, Texas (KAMR / KCIT) – The West Texas A&M University Brass Quintet will travel to Sweden this month to take part in a prestigious educational opportunity.
The WT Ensemble was one of only five quintets selected from around the world to participate in Stockholm Chamber Brass seventh academy for chamber music from 30 July to 7 August in Leksand, Sweden.
“After our tour to Italy in 2019, we wanted to explore more performance opportunities abroad, and Guglielmo (Manfredi, WT professor of music and quintet horn player) stumbled upon the Stockholm Academy,” says Dr. William Takacs, WT professor of music and quintet trumpeter. “This is a great opportunity to become a student again and get instructions and tips from professional musicians.”
Consists of faculty members in WT: s The music school in Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities, WT Brass Quintet also includes trumpet Dr. Russell Teweleit, WT Professor of Music; trombone Dr. John G. Shanks, Associate Professor of Music; and tuba Dr. Jeremy Lewis, Associate Professor of Low Brass.
At the academy, WT ensemble members will participate in master classes, recitals and a group concert with other quintet members.
Each quintet will also work with one of five composers participating in a simultaneous Academy Composers Course. At the end of the academy, each quintet will debut a new work by one of these composers.
“Stockholm Chamber Brass members are some of the best players in the world, and we expect to receive insightful feedback not only from them, but also from the other quintet members selected for the academy,” said Manfredi. “These new ideas will, of course, be translated into our teaching by our WT students. As teachers, we never stop teaching ourselves.”
The quintet also performed on June 27 as part of the Lake City, Colorado, Arts chamber music series. In addition to the 2019 tour in Italy, the quintet, which was formed in 2008, has performed in Florida and, closer to home, with Chamber Music Amarillo, First Baptist Church of Amarillo and at several elementary schools and colleges.
Stockholm Chamber Brass was formed more than 30 years ago and is considered one of the world’s leading brass ensembles.
Promoting an appreciation of art is a key component of the university’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the pan handle to the world.
That plan is powered by the historic, $ 125 million A West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign – which was launched publicly on September 23 – has raised about $ 110 million.
Photo: WT Faculty Brass Quintet members are from the left trombone Dr. John G. Shanks, tuba Dr. Jeremy Lewis, horn Dr. Guglielmo Manfredi, trumpet Dr. Russell Teweleit and trumpet Dr. William Takacs.
About West Texas A&M University
WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential area. The university was founded in 1910 and has been part of the Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Latin American serving institution since 2016, has an enrollment of approximately 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate programs and more than 40 doctoral degrees, including two doctorates. The university is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest historical museum in the state and home to one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. Buffaloes is a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 athletics programs for men and women.