Brass Northwest

Brass NorthwestDecember 2020 edition. Sam Hughes, trumpet Rebecca Krawczuk, trumpet Janelle Wiebe, horn... Damian Rivers-Moore, horn Erik Hongisto, bass trombone Kevin Brohman, percussion (Photo cred: James Moat)

SOMETHING WONDERFUL happened yesterday. And it is going to repeat this afternoon and Sunday afternoon, as well. The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra (TBSO) has be...en shuttered from public performances since last March. The TBSO has a financial support program called 'Musician Chair Sponsors'. Under the guidance and leadership of their current President and with the energetic advocacy and connections of all of their Board of Directors, this program has not only flourished but now contributes a substantial sum to their annual operating budget. You can readily understand how a symphony organization as well as other arts organizations are challenged to stay alive in the midst of a pandemic. This is a shout out to the loyal and generous sponsors in Thunder Bay. The Musician Chair Sponsors program is (ahem) a resounding success for the third season in a row. Some of those sponsors are anonymous, so this is a general THANK YOU to all of them for keeping our classical orchestra alive. Yesterday, as part of their own personal thank you, three prominent TBSO musicians did a 'pop-up' concert in Waverley Park. Damian Rivers-Moore (Horn), Sam Hughes (Trumpet) and Erik Hongisto (Trombone) came to the park to play their thanks live to a modest but enthusiastic live audience. No screens were involved! The weather was....cool. Ok, it was cold. Overcast. But there was no wind. Rivers-Moore, Hughes and Hongisto performed a repertory ranging from Bach to The Beatles in a classy, brassy program. The music, of course, was all arranged for a brass trio and they did it with energy, professionalism and generosity. They concluded with a teasing final movement of a piece they are preparing for an upcoming concert in the TBSO Season 59.5. With perfect timing, a helicopter passing overhead provided appropriate percussion to their concluding notes. It was splendid. Our assembled audience responded with loud applause, shouts and exclamations. Some friends who had remained in their parked cars, honked enthusiastically! Check out that upcoming season on the TBSO website. All the concerts will be performed at Hilldale and some of them are already sold-out. Thank you Damien, Sam and Erik. These classy guys will repeat their concert today at 3:30 pm at the former Hoito and again on Sunday at 2:00 pm at the Tai Chi Park in Marina Park. You are reminded to wear masks and observe appropriate physical distancing when you go to hear them - but I urge you to go hear them. The music is live! See more

Brass Northwest, trio version, October 2020. Sam Hughes, trumpet Damian Rivers-Moore, horn Erik Hongisto, trombone... (photo cred: James Moat)

Brass Northwest is playing again, in trio version! Three, short, quasi-flash-mob-style performances in three days: Oct 2 - Hillcrest Park at 2:00pm Oct 3 - Bay & Algoma (near Hoito) at 3:30pm... Oct 4 - Marina Park (near Tai Chi statues) at 2:00pm Come and find us if you can! (Bundle up and please remember to stay socially distanced.)

Brass Northwest, trio edition, October 2020 Sam Hughes, trumpet Damian Rivers-Moore, horn Erik Hongisto, trombone... (photo cred: James Moat)