The Empire Brass with Douglas Major

Tuesday, May 12, Overture Hall, 7:30 pm

Douglas Major, the former organist and choirmaster of Washington, D.C.’s National Cathedral, will accompany the Empire Brass for this unique performance. The Empire Brass, dubbed “North America’s finest brass quintet,” tragically lost trumpeter and founding member Rolf Smedvig to a sudden heart attack last month. But the show must go on.

press release:

The Empire Brass and Organist Douglas Major will offer a thrilling conclusion to the Overture Concert Organ Season in a joint recital of music for organ and brass, Tues., May 12, at 7:30 p.m., in Overture Hall, 201 State Street.

Widely regarded as North America's finest brass quintet, The Empire Brass is renowned for its brilliant virtuosity and diverse repertoire. The ensemble has toured the United States, Europe, the Far East, and the former Soviet Union, and has performed with the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

Douglas Major is the former organist and choirmaster at the Washington National Cathedral, where he performed for several U.S. Presidents and foreign heads-of-state and appeared frequently on national television. Major has circled the globe performing with ensembles and artists such as Ravi Shankar, Aretha Franklin, Dave Brubeck, the National Symphony, and the United States Marine Band.

The program will include music by Bach, Telemann, Albinoni, and Purcell, among others.

General admission for the concert is $20 and tickets can be purchased at www.madisonsymphony.org/empire, the Overture Box Office or (608) 258-4141. Student rush tickets are $10 the day of the show with a valid student ID (see http://www.madisonsymphony.org/studentrush).

Major funding is provided by The Kelly Family Foundation, with additional funds from Family and Friends, in memory of Dr. Donald L. and Fern D. Kirkpatrick. Support for all Overture Concert Organ programs is provided by the Diane Endres Ballweg Fund. With a gift from Pleasant T. Rowland, the Madison Symphony Orchestra commissioned the Overture Concert Organ, which is the stunning backdrop of all MSO concerts.

The Madison Symphony Orchestra marks its 89th concert season in 2014-2015 with Music Director John DeMain in his 21st year leading the orchestra. The Symphony engages audiences of all ages and backgrounds in classical music through a full season of concerts with established and emerging soloists of international renown, an organ series that includes free concerts, and widely respected education and community engagement programs. Find more information at www.madisonsymphony.org.