OLYMPIC BRASS was founded to provide audiences with the best of brass chamber music. Composed of five of the most accomplished musicians in
Northeast Ohio, OLYMPIC BRASS is Brass at its Peak!
The ensemble is a traditional brass quintet with two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba, with a repertoire spanning five centuries and a wide variety of styles. In addition, OLYMPIC BRASS is a flexible ensemble with a wide palette of instruments and colors available. Email me for bookings, brochures and sound samples!
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Meet the Brass:
| Amanda Bekeny (trumpet) is
the trumpet instructor and brass quintet coach at The College of Wooster. She previously taught at Ashland University,
where she was the trumpet instructor, brass ensemble director, and lectured a
course on musical styles. From 2010
through 2012 Dr. Bekeny oversaw the trumpet studio at The Ohio State
University. While at Ohio State, Dr.
Bekeny maintained a busy schedule of teaching, conducting, and performing. She led the Ohio State Trumpet Ensemble in performances
at the International Trumpet Guild 36th Annual Conference and world premier
performances at the OSU Contemporary Music Festival. Dr. Bekeny is a frequent guest performer and
lecturer at Ohio high schools and universities, and was a guest recitalist at
the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
During her summers, she is a regular clinician and featured performer at
the University of Wisconsin Summer Music Clinic and the Wooster Music Camp.
A busy performer, Dr. Bekeny plays in ensembles throughout Northeastern Ohio,
including as a member of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, where she is also the
Personnel Manager, Mansfield Symphony, where she is 3rd trumpet, and
the Olympic Brass. She is a former
member of the Wisconsin Brass Quintet, RED {an orchestra}, and the Ohio Light
Opera Orchestra. Dr. Bekeny regularly
performs with symphonies throughout Northeast Ohio, including those of Akron
and Canton. She has also performed with
the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Madison Symphony, Madison Opera Orchestra, Wheeling
Symphony, Wooster Symphony, Kent-Blossom Chamber Orchestra, Mansfield Symphony,
Metropolitan Brass Quintet, and Columbus Bach Ensemble. A frequent soloist and recitalist, Dr.
Bekeny has been featured with The Ohio State University Collegiate Wind
Ensemble, Ashland Symphony Orchestra, Ashland University Band, Chagrin Valley
Chamber Orchestra, Wooster Symphony, Scot Symphonic Band, Alliance High School
Band, Westlake Jazz Ensemble, and Southwest Jazz Festival Ensemble.
Dr. Bekeny graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Trumpet Performance
from The Ohio State University, where, as a student of Timothy Leasure, she was
awarded the A. Peter Costanza Award for the most Distinguished DMA
Document. Following her doctoral
studies, she attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a student of
David Burkhart. She also holds a
Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison, where she was a student of John Aley and Alan Campbell. Dr. Bekeny began her career in music at The
College of Wooster under the instruction of her longtime mentor and friend, Dr.
Jack Gallagher.
Eric Dina (trumpet) holds Bachelor degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. He is the Divisional Music Director for The Salvation Army Northeast Ohio Division and lives in Shaker Heights. Eric has been the conductor of the NEOSA Brass & Chorus since 1999. Prior to his role with The Salvation Army, Eric taught for a year in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and for eleven years at University School, a private school for boys. Eric has been active as a freelance musician, clinician, composer and conductor throughout the United States. He is co-Principal Trumpet player of the Suburban Symphony Orchestra and has played with the Dayton Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony and Mansfield Symphony Orchestras along with the Blossom Festival Band and Brass Band of the Western Reserve. Eric is also a member of the Olympic Brass Quintet. He has been featured as trumpet or piano soloist in the U.S., Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Canada
Greg
Hillis (horn) holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education
from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Music degree in Music
Education and Horn Performance from Kent State University. Since 1995, he has
been teaching music in some capacity at levels ranging from elementary school
to college, currently maintaining a large studio of brass students. His
students can be found in many select groups in Northeast Ohio including the
Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony, Contemporary Youth Orchestra and Cleveland
Orchestra Youth Orchestra. As a performer, Greg has performed as a soloist with
the Mansfield University Wind Ensemble, the Kent State University Wind Ensemble
and the Lakeland Civic Band. Mr. Hillis is a member of the Heritage Brass
Quintet and serves as principal horn for the Firelands Symphony and Fourth Horn
with the Lima Symphony. He has also performed with Opera Per Tutti, Cleveland
POPS Orchestra, Ashland Symphony, Ashtabula Orchestra, Elmira Symphony,
Williamsport Symphony and Rabbit Run Theater Orchestra. In addition to his
free-lance performing throughout northeast Ohio, he is a published composer and
serves as the Director of the Great Geauga County Fair Band and Junior Fair
Band. He and his wife also raise chickens and vegetables using organic
practices on their mini-farm.
Eric Rowles (trombones, bass trumpet, tenor horn, euphonium) studied at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with Tony Chipurn. He has toured the world with Buddy Morrow, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and Guy Lombardo's Royal Canadians. Eric has also performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Three Dog Night, Johnny Mathis, Bebe Neuwirth, Michael MacDonald, Michael Bolton, Frankie Valle, Gloria Gaynor, The Fifth Dimension, Bobby Caldwell, and many others. He currently resides in the Cleveland area and is in demand to perform with the Akron, Canton and Youngstown symphony orchestras as well as with Opera Cleveland and many shows at Cleveland's Playhouse Square.
One of the most versatile musicians in the Cleveland
area, J.c. Sherman (tuba) may be
heard playing the tuba, euphonium, trombone, horn, trumpet, flute, saxophones,
ophicleide, serpent, and many other instruments. He recently returned from performing as
soloist with the Olympia (Washington) Symphony, and has performed recitals
internationally and at home here in Cleveland. He is instructor of tuba and Euphonium at
Cleveland State University and is a member of the NEOTuba Quartet, founded by
Ronald Bishop. He is also tubist with
the Firelands Symphony, Blossom Festival Band, Olympic Brass, Heritage Brass,
Night Owls, and is a frequent performer with the Cleveland POPS. J.c. enjoys making and repairing brass
instruments, and is a clinician and educator throughout the region.
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