A short time ago I was interviewed by Emily Spencer of facebook.com/groups/worshipfulbrass.
1. You’re a trained classical singer, composer, and player of numerous instruments. How did you get into brass in particular, and which one is your favorite?
My father was a band director, so it was never a question of whether or not we’d learn an instrument, but which one (after piano, of course). Initially I wanted to play cello, but we had no string players in the family. So, I decided on bassoon, mostly because of its rarity. When I got to high school, I decided to do marching band, but you don’t march bassoons. My dad had a conversation with the band director and they handed me a tuba (they both read bass clef, right?). As I progressed on this instrument and ALL of my four brothers chose brass instruments over the years, I entertained hopes that we’d form a ‘Brothers Brass Quintet’ … we have played together, mostly at Christmastime, over the years, but that dream is as of yet unrealized. A few years ago I decided to stop waiting on my brothers and formed a little brass trio in my neighborhood. That was fun, but when the pandemic hit, we could no longer meet. I took the opportunity to push against my fear of tiny trumpet mouthpieces and start practicing up. Currently, I play BBb tuba, Eb Sousaphone, Euphonium, Trumpet/Cornet/Flugelhorn. Which is my favorite? The one I’m playing at the moment, of course! I greatly admire the French Horn, and maybe someday …
2. You’re an artist I know to have always been in the midst numerous artistic projects. What are some of your hopes and ambitions relating to brass? And tell us about the vision and purpose behind Choirworks Brass.
I hate to say that I don’t really know, but I don’t really know. I’d love to be part of brass group again, when restrictions on gatherings are lifted. For now, I’m using my homespun brass skills to contribute to homespun recordings. I’d love to arrange more for brass, but I have a hard time arranging just for the sake of arranging, I want to know the piece is going to be used, at least once. One of the reasons I have not written more brass music is that I have been discouraged by the inability to use these skills in my church callings. I’ve been a ward choir director, a stake music chairman or a ward organist for most of the past 30 years and I’ve encountered a lot of resistance to using brass, even at stake firesides and conferences. I have great hopes that someday these skills may be readily used in the service of the Lord. For now, I’ll write for my own recordings.
3. Why did you choose the song “Away in a Manger” for this recording? What does the song mean to you? What do you hope for your audience to come away with?
I’ve always loved this carol. I remember singing it in primary as a child when my mother was the chorister. I love that it has three different melodies associated with it (I use two of them in this arrangement). Like many musicians, I have a deep connection with Christmas music. I usually spend six months of the year choosing, arranging and practicing it. My hope for the audience, in a world where ‘Christmas’ radio continues to get more secular each year, is to remind them, if only briefly, of the great beauty and beautiful truths contained in the old carols.
4. Coming from the perspectives of player, composer, teacher, and lifelong devoted member of the Church, have you ever reflected on any possible approaches to how we could effectively and appropriately include brass in church more? If so, what ideas or suggestions do you have?
In the public mind, brass is largely associated with fanfare, marches and musical expressions of bombast. Anyone with a long-standing aquaintance with brass knows this is only one aspect of the instrument family. Brass instruments are great at being loud, but they can also be deeply lyrical and tender. I think people just need to hear these voices in order to decide for themselves that the phrase ‘Worshipful Brass’ is not a contradiction in terms. I’ve been very excited to see this effort to bring forth awareness.
5. What advice do you have for an aspiring brass player — a kid still learning to play, an adult wanting to return to the instrument of their youth and brush up, or even a more seasoned player who wants to keep improving his or her craft? What about advice for parents who want to raise musical (or music-appreciating) kids?
Don’t be afraid. Given patience, nothing is as hard as it looks. It all just takes time. Practice slowly and regularly and it is amazing what you can accomplish. Even though I’ve owned a trumpet for a couple of years, I’ve really only played it since quarantine started. I am far from a professional or accomplished level player on that instrument, yet … All those years of fearing my lips were too big to play on such a tiny mouthpiece proved completely baseless. If you’re really afraid of something, I think that can be a message to you that you need to lean in to that fear until it dissolves under the weight of your efforts.