Paul Bryan, Director & Conductor
Barry McCommon, Associate Conductor
Robert Skoniczin, Associate Conductor
Alex Gittelman, Trumpet Faculty
Karen Schubert, Horn Faculty
Brian Brown, Tuba Faculty

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Bravo Brass — the only school-year-round brass ensemble in the Philadelphia region — offers the highest level of individual and ensemble training opportunities for the most accomplished young brass musicians in the area. In addition to the opportunity to showcase their talents through multiple live performances throughout the year, members enhance and supplement their collegiate and conservatory applications, making them strong candidates for acceptance into the most prestigious universities and conservatories around the world.

Bravo Brass auditions are open to student brass players ranging in age from 12 through 21 years.

Bravo Brass rehearsals take place on Mondays from 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., mid-September through early-June, at Saint Patrick Hall (240 South 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103).

Bravo Brass offers:

• The only year-round brass ensemble in the Philadelphia area.
• The opportunity to work under Director and Conductor Paul Bryan, who also serves as the Dean at Philadelphia’s esteemed Curtis Institute of Music.
• The opportunity to rehearse and perform side-by-side with the Brass Ensemble Faculty: Robert Skoniczin, trumpet; Karen Schubert, horn; Barry McCommon, bass trombone; Brian Brown, tuba.
• Development of individual and ensemble playing skills through weekly rehearsals and multiple performance opportunities each year.
• Valuable experience learning important pieces in the brass ensemble repertoire.
• Valuable experience for those brass players who plan on pursuing music at the college level and beyond.
• The opportunity to play with many of the finest young brass players in the area making music at an extremely high level.
• The opportunity to perform the most demanding and rewarding music available to brass players — putting into an ensemble context those concepts that are covered in students’ private lessons.
• A platform for students to enhance and supplement their collegiate and conservatory applications, making them strong candidates for acceptance into the most prestigious universities and conservatories around the world, including the Curtis Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Mannes College of Music, Indiana University, the University of Michigan, and the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music.
• An equal focus on music lessons and life lessons.

2023 – 2024 Season Repertoire

Alford / Allen
Colonel Bogey March

Beethoven / King
“Allegretto” from Symphony No. 7

Debussy / Allen
“Claire de Lune” from Suite Bergamasque

DiLorenzo
Christmas Toons

DiLorenzo
Heroic Fanfare

Eilish O’Connell / Skelly
No Time to Die

Gabrieli / King
Canzon noni toni

Kelly
Of Nights. Lights, and Brass

Mangione / Baratta
Land of Make Believe

Mascagni
Intermezzo Sinfonico from Cavalleria Rusticana

Rutter
What Sweeter Music

Silvestri / Kelly
The Avengers – Main Theme

Schifrin / Lavender
Mission: Impossible

R. Strauss / Hischman
“Einleitung, oder Sonnenaufgang” from Also sprach Zarathustra

Traditional / Kazdin
The Twelve Days of Christmas

Valme
O Thou Who Camest from Above

Williams / Bollinger
“Raiders’ March” from Raiders of the Lost Ark

Williams / Bollinger
Themes from Star Wars

Withers / Kelly
Lovely Day