About

Founded in 1966, the Western Brass Quintet is one of the oldest and most distinguished brass chamber music ensembles still active in the United States today. The ensemble has performed around the world including concert tours in Russia, Thailand, China, Sweden, Germany, as well as concerts in prestigious American venues such as the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall. The Quintet is a resident faculty ensemble in the School of Music at Western Michigan University.

Following their concerts at Carnegie Hall, the New York Times review raved that “The Western Brass Quintet gave unremitting evidence of their individual talents and ensemble training; chords were precisely weighted and registered, instrumental blends were sensitively arranged, and there was rarely a tentatively attacked or released note.” The New York Concert Review describes them as “exhibiting a remarkable flair for the Renaissance style, …with remarkable facility and technique.” Following their performance at the 2005 International Trumpet Guild Conference in Bangkok, the published review asserted that “the Western Brass Quintet is not just another “academic” brass chamber ensemble; their performance was equal to that of any “professional” brass quintet. This is a superb group…”

Committed to promoting the composition of significant works for the brass quintet, the ensemble has premiered numerous works including Tightrope by the Guggenheim and MacArthur Fellowship award-winner George Lewis, and Landscapes by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Karel Husa (see full list of commissions below). Additionally, an interest in performance practices for the music of the Renaissance and Baroque has inspired several significant arrangements of music from these periods by Western Brass Quintet members. Four full-length compact discs have been recorded by WBQ on Summit Records. WBQ recorded Shadowcatcher for Brass Quintet and Band by Eric Ewazen and Concerto for Brass Quintet and Band by Anthony Plog with the WMU University Symphonic Band on the Klavier label in 2014.

WBQ - list of commissions and co-commissions

A Garden Story (2023) by Sara Jacovino

Dust (B5 + Band) (2023) by Jennifer Jolley

Tightrope (2023) by George Lewis

Mycelium Stories (2023) by Hitomi Oba

Miracles of the Human Condition (2022) by Lillian Yee

Brass Knuckles (2022) by Mischa Zupko

Fantasia III (2022) by Kevin Day

How We Change (2020) by David Colson

Dark Mirror (2017) by Alexander Lamont Miller

Decade Zero (2016) by Christopher Biggs

The Better Angels of Our Nature (2016) by David Colson

Invisible/Dark (2016) by Lisa R. Coons

Brass Quintet (2012) by Pierre Jalbert

Quintessence (2012)by Joseph Turrin

Concerto for Brass Quintet and Band (2010) by Anthony Plog 

A Flying Circus (2009) by David Colson

Frame of Mind (2008) by Richard Adams

Games for Brass (2003) by Curtis Curtis-Smith

Dark Matters (1996) by Mark Schultz

Vox Naturae (with orchestra, 1991) by Ramon Zupko

Pro and Contra Dances (1986) by Ramon Zupko

Plays and Rimes (1979) by Curtis Curtis-Smith

Landscapes (1977) by Karel Husa

Nodding Music by Elgar Howarth

Masques (1973/78) by Ramon Zupko