Los Angeles Brass Quintet wins national competition

In addition to being the resident brass quintet for Hancock County, the Los Angeles Brass Quintet can now add a new title: national champion.

Trumpeters Jason Foltz and Rich Candelaria, trombonist Steven Suminski, tuba player Nathan McIntyre and English horn player Liesl Perkins went into the mid-March International Brass Quintet Competition at the University of Georgia with modest expectations.

“We had no idea what to expect,” said Candelaria.

Twelve numbers and four rounds after they arrived, the quintet found themselves victorious over 20 other groups in the open division, including former world champs from Budapest, Hungary.

They were one of three groups in the finals.

“We were all tied, and the group that played the best musically was going to win, and we happened to do it,” Candelaria said. “We went last, which was exciting to us.”

The competition at the Athens, Ga., campus was a real learning experience as well.

“The judges were internationally renowned musicians, and they would give us suggestions on what we could do better,” Candelaria said. “You couldn’t help but leave a better player.”

The quintet took home a $5,000 prize. But the title means more than the cash to them.

“It means recognition of our hard work, and respect for what we’re doing,” Candelaria said. “It shows we’re doing something right and shows we’re serious.”

The Los Angeles Brass Quintet is in Hancock County under the auspices of The Grand Auditorium in Ellsworth. Their stay, which is for up to three years in renewable one-year increments, was arranged by Chamber Music America’s Rural Residency Program and was made possible largely through a National Endowment for the Arts grant.

Half of their salaries are paid for by the NEA grant, with the other half raised by The Grand. Since their arrival in August, they have split time evenly between rehearsals and appearances at local schools and churches and in public concerts.

Having the national champs is a bonus to what the group has already accomplished, said Bob Bahr, The Grand’s executive director.

“Having the champions will reinforce the work we’re doing, and will leave no question about the work the group is doing in the schools,” he said. “It’s a validation of the program CMA has put together. Through them supporting it financially, the ensemble has time to practice for things like this.”

The quintet now will turn its attention to the world competition in June in Narbonne, France. But they have a couple of significant local performances before then.

At 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, they will perform in concert with the Robinson Ballet at The Grand.

Then, at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20, will be a spring pops concert at The Grand. The quintet will be but one of the groups taking part in that event.

“There will be groups from all over involved, as it’s promoting music and art in Hancock County,” Candelaria explained.

To book the Los Angeles Brass Quintet, contact Bob Bahr at 667-5911 or Rich Candelaria at 288-9654.