By Staff
NILES - The Southwestern Michigan College Brass Band, which is performing a free concert tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Niles Riverfront Amphitheater, is composed of area band directors, community members and SMC students.
The band is a British-style ensemble, modeled after those so popular throughout Europe, founded in January of 1992 by its current director, Dr. Jonathan Korzun, chair of Fine and Performing Arts and director of bands at SMC.
Along with the band's annual June concerts at the Niles Riverfront Amphitheater and at area high school Holiday Concerts, they have also performed at the Howard Band Shell in St. Joseph, the Southside Marina in South Haven, and the "Rhapsody in Green" festival in Elkhart, Ind.
The SMC Brass Band commissioned a new work, "Symphonette," by composer Stephen Bulla honoring the 30th anniversary of the first graduating class from SMC. Since its publication, it has been widely performed in Europe and the United States. It as been recorded by the New York Staff Band of the Salvation Army on its CD titled "On a Hymnsong." It has also been transcribed for concert band by the composer.
The SMC Brass band rehearses Wednesday nights on the Dowagiac Campus and its season runs from September through June.
For further information about the SMC Brass Band contact: Korzun at (269) 782-1225, or e-mail him at jkorzun@swmich.edu.