The program, performed by the Eastman Brass Guild, takes its title from the witty Lerner and Loewe song “Why Can’t the English?” from My Fair Lady. The choice is intended as a playful nod to the irony of the question, as the concert highlights the extraordinary beauty, grandeur, and artistry of English brass music.
Far from suggesting any lack of musical achievement, the title underscores just how remarkable this repertoire is—akin to asking a world-class chef if they can cook a simple hamburger. For those who prefer a more straightforward framing, the program may also be referred to as “British Brass” or “Brass Music of England.”
You're invited to hear this music on Live from Hochstein on Wednesday, November 12th at 12:10pm, in person at the Hochstein Performance Hall (50 N. Plymouth Avenue, downtown Rochester) or by listening to the live broadcast on WXXI Classical.
The Eastman Brass Guild was established in 1998 by the then Professor of Trumpet at the Eastman School, James Thompson. The group was founded to provide students with the opportunity to explore and perform varied ensemble repertoire written for different combinations of brass instruments, ranging from the antiphonal music of the Venetian Renaissance to works composed within the last several years. The group was also formed to provide a laboratory setting for students to become better acquainted with the brass writing found in the standard orchestral canon.
Upon Thompson’s retirement in 2023, Mark Kellogg, Professor of Trombone at the Eastman School, was appointed as the new conductor of the ensemble. The students in this ensemble are mentored by the dedicated brass faculty of the Eastman School of Music. Their exemplary work would not be possible without the tireless efforts of Justin Benavidez, Professor of Euphonium and Tuba; W. Peter Kurau, Professor of Horn; Andrew McCandless, Professor of Trumpet; Wesley Nance, Coordinator of Brass Chamber Music and Larry Zalkind, Professor of Trombone.
Live from Hochstein with host Mona Seghatoleslami is a series of midday concerts by some of the finest artists in our area broadcast live from The Hochstein Performance Hall. Each of these free concerts runs from 12:10-12:50 p.m., giving downtown business people, teachers, families, students, and friends an opportunity to enjoy classical music by outstanding musicians, including soloists, duos, and vocal and chamber ensembles. You can also hear an encore broadcast of Live from Hochstein later the same day at 10 p.m. on WXXI Classical.
