Publicity Packet

Who We Are
The Salt River Brass…
·
is the most successful community band in the United States
·
has been part of the Valley arts scene for more than 20 years
·
is led by world-renowned musicians Patrick Sheridan and Sam Pilafian
·
features world-class guest artists at every concert
·
boasts an enthusiastic and dedicated audience
·
consistently plays to sell-out
crowds
·
performs a broad spectrum of
musical styles including jazz,
Big Band and classical
music from around the world
·
is involved in educational
outreach
·
is committed to the musical
entertainment, education
and enrichment of the men,
women and children of the
Greater Phoenix
metropolitan area
PO Box 25619 Tempe, Arizona 85285
www.saltriverbrass.org (602) 334-4556
The Salt River Brass is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation
Our Mission
The mission of the Salt River Brass is to provide world-class music in a variety of
styles to a broad spectrum of the public through brass band performances,
recording production and community outreach programs. The Salt River Brass is
a community band committed to the cultural enrichment of the people in the
Greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
PO Box 25619 Tempe, Arizona 85285
www.saltriverbrass.org (602) 334-4556
The Salt River Brass is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation
Patrick Sheridan, Music Director
Patrick Sheridan Patrick Sheridan is one of the most celebrated tuba soloists in his instrument's
history. He has performed more than 3,000 concerts in over 50 countries in venues ranging from
the White House to NBA half-time shows to the Hollywood Bowl.
He is a former member of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band and has been
featured on NBC's "Today Show" and NPR's "All Things Considered." He is equally at home with
standard classical repertoire and as an entertainer in the
“pops” realm. In addition to his musical studies with legendary
tuba artists Arnold Jacobs, Sam Pilafian, Daniel Perantoni,
Harvey Phillips and Jim Self, Mr. Sheridan holds a Master of
Business Administration degree with an emphasis in finance
and marketing from the University of Michigan.
Beyond his busy performing life, Patrick's commitment to
education is extensive. With Sam Pilafian, he co-authored the
popular pedagogy book, The Breathing Gym. His wind
students occupy positions in major international ensembles. In
2001, Patrick founded The Institute for Performance Success.
This unique educational resource is dedicated to bringing
fresh and innovative learning technologies to performers and
educators in search of peak performance. Patrick currently
serves on the music faculties at Arizona State University and
UCLA, and is a design consultant for Jupiter Band Instruments.
In the community, Patrick serves as Music Director of The Salt River Brass and conductor of the
Sonic Winds, made up of high school musicians from throughout the Valley. Patrick is a member of
ASCAP, an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and a Trustee of The International Music Camp.
PO Box 25619 Tempe, Arizona 85285
www.saltriverbrass.org (602) 334-4556
The Salt River Brass is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation
Sam Pilafian, Associate Conductor & Chief Arranger
Sam Pilafian is perhaps best known as a founding member of the internationally renowned
Empire Brass Quintet. He also has recorded and performed with the Boston Symphony
Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, the Metropolitan
Opera Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton, and Pink Floyd. As a solo
jazz artist, Sam has recorded fifteen CDs. As an arranger, composer and recording producer,
Sam has recently produced and written for Joseph Alessi (New York Philharmonic), the
Boston Brass, the Brass Band of Battle Creek, the
Academy (of Drum Corp International), and the
United States Air Force Band. Sam is the co-author
with Patrick Sheridan of the best selling pedagogy
texts Breathing Gym and Brass Gym.
He is currently Professor of Music at Arizona State
University, having previously served for twenty years
on the faculties of Boston University and their
summer Tanglewood Institute. Sam has won the
Walter Naumberg Chamber Music Award, the
Harvard Music Association Prize, the University of
Miami's Distinguished Alumni Award, the Brevard
Music Center Distinguished Alumni Award, the
Robert Trotter Annual Visiting Professorship at the University of Oregon, Arizona State
University, and a 2006 Spirit of Disney award for creativity and design awarded by Drum
Corps International.
Sam is the Co-Director of the Institute for Performance Success, a design consultant for
Jupiter Band Instruments. and Director of the ASU Jazz Repertory Band.
PO Box 25619 Tempe, Arizona 85285
www.saltriverbrass.org (602) 334-4556
The Salt River Brass is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation
Recordings
This CD celebrates classics from the 1940s—the Golden Era of
American song—including Gershwin favorite S'Wonderful, Cole
Porter's Every Time We Say Goodbye, Lionel Hamptom's Hamp's
Boogie, Leonard Bernstein's Overture to 'Candide' and Aaron
Copeland's Grovers Corners from the music for Our Town. Bill
Reddie's Channel One Suite features an unforgettable solo by world
renowned percussionist Dan Bukvich. These songs and more make
this CD a classic!
Ladies and gentlemen, turn your attention to the center ring as a
musical circus comes to town! Clowns, acrobats and galloping horses
spring to life in Fucik's Entry of the Gladiators, Henry Fillmore's Circus
Bee, and Russell Alexander's Olympia Hippodrome, a Barnum &
Bailey favorite! This international spectacle also features, among
others, Manuel De Falla's Ritual Fire Dance, Rimsky-Korsidov's
Dance of the Tumblers, and Stephen Sondheim's Send in the Clowns.
Big Fun under the Big Top!
The Salt River Brass presents a holiday collection like no other
with songs ranging from the popular (Irving Berlin's White
Christmas, James Pierpont's Jingle Bells, and Stephen Bulla's
The Twelve Days of Christmas), to the classical (Gustav
Holst's In the Bleak Midwinter, Dmitri Shostakovitch's Folk
Festival, and selections from Tchaikovsky's Suite from the
Nutcracker), to the downright breathtaking, such as vocalist
Melissa Spevacek's virtuoso rendition of Viene! T'affretta! from
Verdi's MacBeth. Holiday magic!
PO Box 25619 Tempe, Arizona 85285
www.saltriverbrass.org (602) 334-4556
The Salt River Brass is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation