Bravo Brass Performs “The Glory of Gabrieli” 03.06.16 - PYO Music Institute

PHILADELPHIA (February 6, 2016)—The talented high-school-age brass musicians of Bravo Brass, the only all-brass ensemble for youth in the region and one of the few in the country, is performing on Sunday, March 6 at 4 p.m. at Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church, just after the chiming of Saint Mary’s peal of English Whitechapel bells. This free concert is the third event in Saint Mary’s Music Series 2015-2016 season. St. Mary’s is located at 145 West Broad St. in Burlington, NJ.

Conducted by Paul Bryan, Director of Bravo Brass and the Curtis Institute Dean of Faculty and Students, these promising instrumentalists will perform “The Glory of Gabrieli”, a recreation of the Grammy-winning 1968 album that featured Brass players from three of America’s great orchestras– the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra. The talented young brass players of this ensemble of the PYO Music Institute (PYO) will bring Gabrieli’s antiphonally performed music to the acoustics of Saint Mary’s Church. For concert information, call PYO at 215-545-0502 or St. Mary’s at (609) 386-0902.

Paul Bryan looks forward to this performance and talks about the significance of the music. He said,

“If I could present this program every season, I would.  For the audience, it’s a listening experience like no other, and for the students, rehearsing and performing these works requires them to not only be at their technical best but also to listen to the sound and style of every one of their colleagues.  Finally, for me, this music provides an opportunity to share stories and experiences of some of my teachers who played on that recording—connecting me and the group’s members to arguably the greatest generation of brass players.”

This is a high point for one of the members of Bravo Brass as well. Ehren Valme, 17, a resident of Burlington Township, is a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and has a strong connection to the church. In fact, after meeting Father Haynes, the Rector of St. Mary’s, Valme has developed two strong personal goals – to serve the church and to get a doctorate in sacred music. He said recently, “I believe there are certain things that manifest the human condition. Music is one of them and faith and philosophy are another.” He added, “My friends call me ‘The Reverend.’ I guess it fits!”

Bravo Brass, part of the family of musical ensembles in the highly regarded PYO Music Institute (PYO), is the only all-brass ensemble for youth in the region and one of the few in the country. Gifted young brass musicians ages 12-21 are selected by audition to participate in this advanced group and receive instruction from a faculty of expert musicians in each instrument. Bravo Brass offers students the opportunity to build specialized musical capabilities as well as life skills that enhance personal growth.  Many of the students have excelled in all-state bands and orchestras throughout the Delaware Valley and gained admission into some of the country’s best universities and conservatories.

About the PYO Music Institute:

Now in its 76th year, the renowned PYO Music Institute organization, led by President and Music Director Louis Scaglione, is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected community music education and youth orchestra performance programs, providing talented young musicians from across the tri-state area with exceptional musical training. Students go on to excel in many diverse fields and it is with pride that PYO notes that many members of the prestigious Philadelphia Orchestra are alumni.  The organization is comprised of five independent ensembles designed to meet specific needs and experience levels of students selected through a competitive audition process. The anchor group is the PYO Music Institute (PYO) ensemble, conducted by President and Music Director Louis Scaglione, featuring 125 gifted instrumentalists who range in age from 14-21. Young musicians 10-18 years old are featured in the PYO’s companion ensemble, the Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra, which is led by Director and Conductor Maestra Rosalind Erwin. Bravo Brass, directed by Curtis Institute Dean of Faculty and Students, Paul Bryan, is an all brass ensemble for promising high-school instrumentalists. PRYSM (Philadelphia Region Youth String Music) and PRYSM Young Artists ensembles provide string ensemble and sectional master class instruction for beginning and intermediate musicians ages 6-14. The director and conductor of PRYSM is Gloria DePasquale, cellist with The Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor of PRSYM Young Artists is Jessica Villante. Tune Up Philly (TUP) is the organization’s after-school program, directed by Paul Smith, that offers musical instruments and instruction to children in economically challenged areas of Philadelphia.  www.pyos.org.