The UCF Brass Ensembles Concert as held in the Alexis and Jim Pugh Theater in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts (445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801) as part of UCF Celebrates the Arts. Getting through security with art supplies was it’s usual adventure. I also brought along opera glasses but since we were seated so close I really didn’t use them.
The evening consisted of 6 different Ensembles which meant I had to work fast since all the music stands and any chairs would move for each ensemble. The first ensemble was for the UCF Trombone Choir directed by Dr. Luis Fred. I managed to sketch two trombone players before they were done playing.
The UCF Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble was next and I dashed off one tuba player before they left the stage. There was a world premier of a composition called Avalanche by Thomas Harrison. I tried to envision how the music evoked an avalanche but the music left me cold. Another horn ensemble was then followed by the Colbourn Brass Quintet. Their performance was the highlight of the evening for me. They performed Wachet auf, Ruft uns die Stimme by Johann Sebastian Bach. Translated the title is Awake the Voice is Calling Us. The performance was dedicated to a present day performer of Bach’s works who had recently died.
A final fanfare was followed by the stage filling with all the performers from that evening as they performed a combined ensemble. Though i didn’t count the stage was filled with horn players shoulder to shoulder. The strength in numbers filled the hall. I grew up playing coronet which is like a small trumpet. It was my earliest passion in the arts, so I love the sound of horns.