MUSIC

Houston Friends of Chamber Music presents the American Brass Quintet at 8 PM on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 in Stude Hall at Rice University Shepherd School of Music.

The American Brass Quintet, also celebrating its 50th anniversary, will perform a diverse program including 17th-century canzoni of Widmann, Troilo, and Brade, a 2009 ABQ commission from composer Shafer Mahoney, charming 19th-century gems of Ludwig Maurer, and Eric Ewazen's 1987 brass quintet masterpiece Colchester Fantasy.

The American Brass Quintet has been internationally recognized as one of the foremost chamber music ensembles of our time. The ABQ's rich history includes performances in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and all fifty of the United States; a discography of over fifty recordings; the premieres of over one-hundred contemporary brass works, and in the last decade, mini-residencies that have brought the ABQ's chamber music expertise to countless young musicians and institutions worldwide. In commemoration of their 50th anniversary, the ABQ released their eighth recording on the Summit label.

Equally committed to the promotion of brass chamber music through education, the American Brass Quintet has been in residence at The Juilliard School since 1987 and at the Aspen Music Festival since 1970. Since 2001 the ABQ has offered its expertise in chamber music performance and training with a program of mini-residencies as part of its regular touring season. Designed to offer young groups and individuals an intense chamber music experience over several days, ABQ mini-residencies have been embraced by schools and communities throughout the United States and internationally.

Through its acclaimed performances, diverse programming, commissioning, extensive discography and educational mission, the ABQ has created a legacy unparalleled in the brass field. Hailed as "the high priests of brass" by Newsweek, "positively breathtaking" by the New York Times, and "of all the brass quintets, the most distinguished" by the American Record Guide, the American Brass Quintet has clearly defined itself among the elite chamber music ensembles of our time.

The American Brass Quintet is a favorite among Houston audiences, and the Houston Friends of Chamber Music is thrilled to have them join us once again.

To purchase tickets for this performance, please call 713-348-5400 or visit www.HoustonFriendsofChamberMusic.org.

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Houston Friends of Chamber Music began 49 years ago for the purpose of presenting great chamber music by great performers to audiences of all generations. Each year, the Houston Friends of Chamber Music Board selects nine performing groups of artists from over 100 internationally recognized performers.