Rosemarie & John Stover are not your average classical music fans, and it seems they never have been. During the following year of their first Canadian Brass concert in Washington DC, the couple attended 15 concerts totaling an incredible 5000 miles, and they had only just begun. Since that first concert in 1997, the Stovers have continued to add to their (now) 350+ CB concerts attended, while managing to keep in contact with past members. Their commitment to the group’s sound over the years has allowed the Stovers to become a very unique and special part of the Canadian Brass family!!

The Stovers’ dedication has generated CB’s very own Million Mile Club. To truly appreciate this undertaking (so far, Stovers’ total distance travelled equaling almost a quarter million miles) understand that they have travelled to more cities and venues with Canadian Brass than four of the group’s current brass players.  Thus they are now the most seasoned of the Canadian Brass members, not including CB’s co-founder and tuba player of course, the resolute force himself — Chuck. The picture you see marks their 353^rd Canadian Brass concert in Markham, Ontario, April 2012.

Our thanks go out to the other contestants for sharing their photos. Of course there can only be one winner, but we encourage you to continue to post your photos of Chuck & his Conn Tuba to our facebook fan page.

We appreciate your support and keep listening!

We would like to congratulate John Stover for his iPhone screen shot taken of Chuck with his “new” Vintage 2J Conn Tuba! Not only is the picture a screen shot, but also it was taken during the live feed of the record release concert at LPR in New York, 2012. Talk about commitment! As winner of our first photo contest, we are awarding him with this autographed copy of his photo as seen here, and an autographed copy of Takes Flight – the first non-piano recording on the new Steinway Label.

Rosemarie & John Stover are not your average classical music fans, and it seems they never have been. During the following year of their first Canadian Brass concert in Washington DC, the couple attended 15 concerts totaling an incredible 5000 miles, and they had only just begun. Since that first concert in 1997, the Stovers have continued to add to their (now) 350+ CB concerts attended, while managing to keep in contact with past members. Their commitment to the group’s sound over the years has allowed the Stovers to become a very unique and special part of the Canadian Brass family!!

The Stovers’ dedication has generated CB’s very own Million Mile Club. To truly appreciate this undertaking (so far, Stovers’ total distance travelled equaling almost a quarter million miles) understand that they have travelled to more cities and venues with Canadian Brass than four of the group’s current brass players.  Thus they are now the most seasoned of the Canadian Brass members, not including CB’s co-founder and tuba player of course, the resolute force himself — Chuck. The picture you see marks their 353^rd Canadian Brass concert in Markham, Ontario, April 2012.

Our thanks go out to the other contestants for sharing their photos. Of course there can only be one winner, but we encourage you to continue to post your photos of Chuck & his Conn Tuba to our facebook fan page.

We appreciate your support and keep listening!

Upon notice of his win, our recording label’s online promoter reached out to John to find out more about his photo entry and how long he had known Canadian Brass. This is what he said…

“Our connection with Canadian Brass began in 1997 when, at the request of our daughter, we [my wife, Rosemarie & I] attended our first concert in Washington, DC. Having heard CB on recordings, we expected to enjoy ourselves but had no idea where this concert would lead us in the next 15 years.

On the way home after that first concert, we planned a trip to hear another performance. In just over a year, we went to 15 concerts and traveled more than 5,000 miles. We both were retired from teaching in 1998 and, as a reward to ourselves, we planned a trip to Germany where CB just happened to be on tour.

Shortly before that tour, we learned that David Ohanian was leaving Canadian Brass! Although we had only known the group for a year and a half, it seemed to us as though it would never change. And now, David, who had become a friend, would be gone.

Looking back over 15 years and the changes in the makeup of the quintet, we realize that every time a member leaves, CB changes, yet stays the same. It maintains the standard of excellence to which other brass quintets are compared.

To say that we have done the unusual is probably an understatement. We have traveled 160,000 miles, visited 138 cities, 185 venues in 36 states plus Washington, DC, and four other countries to hear CB 350+ times. Perhaps ‘bizarre’ isn’t even the right word to describe what we call our retirement hobby.

As CB members moved on to other ventures, we have continued to stay in touch with them and attend their performances. As a result of our relationship with the current and former members of the Brass, we have met other musicians and have branched out in their directions. These two side ventures have added 80,000 miles to our travels.

The last 15 years and nearly a quarter million miles have enriched us in ways we never could have dreamed of. We’ve met fantastic people, seen amazing sights, heard beautiful music, and built up a storehouse of memories that we treasure.”

John Stover, 2012

The mission of Brass Underground is to expand the boundaries of traditional Canadian Brass repertoire and appeal to all sorts of listeners. These “cover” arrangements come from the Brass’ time spent ”underground”- jamming and getting creative. While this may not always be the Canadian Brass music that audiences are used to, nor will they most likely hear these titles on their live performance circuit, fans are sure to enjoy this fresh side to CB!

NOW ON Youtube — Canadian Brass LIVE at LPR

In January 2012, Canadian Brass made its premiere performance at the prestigious (le) Poisson Rouge in New York City.  Heralding the new best-selling CD “Takes Flight“, Canadian Brass played the repertoire that made its name a worldwide success.  Now for the rest of the world this extraordinary live performance is being issued in video form here, with individual titles from that concert appearing in sequence. To start, now coordinating with the unveiling of the BRASS’ new website, are the first two titles from that live appearance: “Just a Closer Walk” and “Galliard Battaglia.”

Enjoy this opening music from “Takes Flight,” and keep an eye out as we share each piece, one by one from that memorable night!

This radio concert will be aired three times:

• April 30th, 9:00 PM Eastern Time
• May 4th, 6:00 PM Eastern Time
• May 6th, 6:00 PM Eastern Time

Mark these dates on your listening calendar! Canadian Brass has been enjoying a wonderful rela

tionship with SiriusXM. These exclusive concert airings mark the ensemble’s fourth live performance appearance on Symphony Hall. Wonderful music, interesting conversation and great brass playing!

Joe and Becky Pritchard of Pritchard Music Academy are always looking for new and innovative ways to inspire their students to get excited about music. On April 16 and 17, the couple achieved this goal in an amazing way, both for their students and the entire Gaithersburg community.

“My wife and I, along with some friends, had the great privilege of seeing, and hearing, you live last evening at Central Piedment Community College in Charlotte, NC. This was not our first time attending a Canadian Brass concert, but I must say it was certainly the most entertaining Canadian Brass concert we’ve seen, live or otherwise. The virtuosity of the Canadian Brass always impresses, and this iteration of the group is simply amazing.” - Greg P

“All of you were amazing today at the Dale F. Halton Theater at Central Piedmont Community College! The whole performance was great from start to finish! Hope you see you here again, Charlotte will be waiting! Best wishes to all your future performances!” - Jaime G

“Enjoyed your concert at the Newberry Opera House. Thanks so much for sharing your incredible talent with us!” - Joe F

“I was at your Naperville, IL show at North Central College. I just want to write and let you know that your performance was simply amazing. Simply put the young bucks knocked my socks off. Take a bow and never take a back seat to anyoneas you guys GOT IT!!!  Keep up that level of performance and keep moving forward and 4 more will be listed along with Chuck as true Virtuoso’s and Masters of their craft.

God Bless and WOW!!!” - Thomas E

“My wife and I loved tonight’s performance at Andrews University. I would like to know who comes up with your program ending bits like Hornsmoke and the Salute to Ballet? I absolutely love them.” - Ken Kuempel

CANADIAN BRASS TRIUMPH IN RETURN TO CHINA

For Immediate Release, January 27, 2011 – The Canadian Brass, called ‘the world’s most famous brass group’ by the Washington Post, added a new chapter to their storied history with their latest tour to China.  Invited to attend the Chinese Spring Festival Gala to help celebrate the coming Chinese New Year, the Brass performed on Hunan-TV Network to an estimated audience of half billion viewers (500,000,000).  Along with their performance, the Brass was introduced and interviewed by Yang Lan, China’s most popular television hostess. Her fame and stature is immense in China.  Of note, she was a 2008 Beijing Olympic torchbearer as well as host at the Closing Ceremonies among her many honors and accolades.  Chuck Daellenbach, founder and tuba maestro of Canadian Brass gushed “it was a great success! Just when you think you’ve done it all, Canadian Brass, plays live to half a billion people on China’s most viewed TV network on the largest TV show of the year. Simply amazing!”  The Chinese Spring Festival Gala on Hunan TV Network garners the highest audience rating of the year in China and certainly the largest audience to ever see the Canadian Brass perform.  The Hunan TV Network is located in Changsha, the capital city of Hunan – a province of south-central China on the lower reaches of Xiang River, a branch of the Yangtze River.

The Canadian Brass and China have a relationship that is far reaching. The Brass was the first western classical music group to perform in China, as part of a cultural exchange program between Canada and China in 1970. The Canadian Brass was selected by the Canadian government as cultural ambassadors, helping to open the door between the two nations.  Coming full circle, one of their first stops back then was to Changsha Province and Hunan TV Network. They were recently asked to come back in August 2010 as part of an education outreach and small tour.   After the Brass created a media stir and received rave reviews, they were invited to participate in the Chinese New Year celebration in 2011.

Now entering its 41^st season, Canadian Brass has entertained millions of fans around the globe and continues to be hailed for creating irresistibly entertaining concerts and recordings for music lovers of all backgrounds and musical tastes – all anchored by the ensembles technical precision and polished tone.  Whether performing classical, jazz, popular music or contemporary fare, the group attracts legions of fans everywhere with its dazzling and joyous music making. The group records for the Canadian indie label Opening Day Entertainment Group.

If there’s anything guaranteed in life it’s that you will be thoroughly entertained, uplifted, and satisfied when you listen to a Canadian Brass recording—any Canadian Brass recording. This is the outfit that defined—and still commands pre-eminence in—the world of brass quintet music and performance, and here the group (with only one remaining original member, tuba virtuoso Chuck Daellenbach) offers a killer program beginning with Flight of the Bumblebee and ending with Don Gillis’ arrangement of the gospel standard Just a Closer Walk with Thee. There’s all the wondrous technical bedazzlement and trademark humor, elevated to inimitable artistic heights by the awe-inspiring polish and always-present musicality. You’ll love that juxtaposed “When the saints” and the “Hallelujah” chorus—classic Canadian Brass, as you will cherish the gorgeous and very moving Quintet by Michael Kamen, the Gabrieli Canzona, and the Bach Air. Indispensable!

—David Vernier