Themes from “Star Wars,” “The Magnificent Seven,” Disney’s “Fantasia,” Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” “West Side Story,” “Mission: Impossible” and a mash-up from “The Incredibles” are some of the Hollywood hits to be performed by Presidio Brass.
The five member ensemble from San Diego, Calif. will perform well-known songs from beloved films of all genres and eras at a free concert, “Sounds of the Cinema,” Tuesday, March 28, in the Marysville High School auditorium. Their visit is sponsored by the Marshall County Arts Cooperative.
“These songs were chosen based on their appeal to people of all ages and widely recognized themes,” said Miles McAllister, one of the ensemble’s trumpet players. “People like to hear these works performed.”
McAllister says the concert appeals to all ages. “There is certainly something for everyone to enjoy, even if you may not recognize a tune,” he said. “Good music is good music and we like to combine good music with great performance.”
Throughout the concert the ensemble infuses wit and humor in between songs. “Humor is used so the audience gets to know us as a group and individuals,” McAllister explained. “We want to educate the audience about the works that we are playing but do so in a way that they will actually remember. By the end of the concert, people also get a real insight into our persona and they can tell we enjoy performing for them as much as we enjoy performing with each other.”
Presidio Brass formed in 2006 as a standard brass quintet. After its inception they quickly added piano and percussion to allow for more interesting and diverse arrangements.
In addition to McAllister on the trumpet, the ensemble consists of Steve O’Connor, trumpet; Geoff Durbin, euphonium and trombone; Josh Bledsoe, trombone; and Scott Sutherland, tuba and piano.
School bands from Marysville and Valley Heights will perform with Presidio Brass.
In addition to their evening concert the ensemble is performing at nursing homes throughout Marshall County. They are also leading a workshop for Axtell High School’s band and performing for the student body at Axtell.
“We are looking forward to our extended stay in Marshall County as we perform for many different audiences of all ages,” McAllister said. “Working with students in the area’s band programs will be especially important for us as we always aim to inspire the next generation of musicians.”
Members of the Presidio Brass have performed with major symphony orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Las Vegas Philharmonic, and San Diego Symphony, and have shared the stage with Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, and Quincy Jones. When not on tour, they continue to perform throughout the country as freelance artists; they also operate an annual summer music camp in San Diego for brass students of all ages.
For more information about their residency or performance people may contact Brad Ekiss, the president of the arts cooperative, at 785-562-7728.
