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Conversations with creators and organizers of the arts scene in West Michigan, hosted by Cara Lieurance

Concert preview: Western’s “Brass for the Holidays” returns

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Randall van Gurchom-Colijn, via Flickr. All Creative Commons license
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Holiday trombones

The Western Brass Quintet — trumpeters Scott Thornburg and Robert White, horn player Lin Baird, trombonist Kip Hickman and tubist Chance Trottman-Huiet — will be joined by student brass and percussion players and by Dr. Marja Kerney at 3 pm on Sunday, Dec 11 in Miller Auditorium to resume a longstanding tradition. The WMU is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the “Brass for the Holidays” concert is after 3 years of silence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a conversation with Cara Lieurance, Dr. Robert White talks about the music on the program, including Tielman Susato’s Dances from Terpsichore. The brilliant Renaissance dances have been a hallmark of the program for decades. Other returning works include a suite of carols, medieval works of Alfonso X and Hildegard von Bingen, and an arrangement of Guaraldi’s “Christmastime is Here.” The program also featured a new fanfare by Dani Howard.

Tickets and details at the School of Music website.

Cara Lieurance covers local music with live morning interviews, and produces WMUK's Let's Hear It weekday mornings at 10 am Mon-Fri, showcasing local interviews and performances. She also produces The Pure Drop, an hour of Celtic music, with musician Dave Marlatt.