SAN ANTONIO BRASS INC

The organization seeks to improve the lives of young, amateur, and professional musicians by providing a safe, encouraging environment to explore and perform challenging brass music. Under the tutelage of professional musicians, including members of the San Antonio Symphony, you musicians are exposed to the highest standards of brass performance and gain personal confidence through the dedicated study of music. Former students of SAB's educational programs have become band directors, acquired faculty positions at major universities, and joined bands of the United States Military. The San Antonio Brass Band's mentorship program will build on the success of past programs and include: side-by side concerts with the musicians of the brass band; coaching by members of the San Antonio Symphony; and exposure to high-level ensemble playing with peers from San Antonio and its surrounding areas.

Our outreach strategy for the next three seasons is to target suitable locations with excellent acoustics in each of the 10 districts of San Antonio and provide free concerts and educational outreach events in each district. Significant effort will be made to partner with entities in each district to maximize marketing and public awareness of events. These services will be handled primarily by the brass quintet, which is highly mobile but may also include performance opportunities for the Brass Band.

Winning the 1st section at the recent North American Brass Band Association competition speaks to our artistic excellence. However, we will continue to improve the performing excellence of the band through upgrades in personnel. This is a sensitive area and will be handled with appropriate care and nuance. An open call will go out over the summer for a general meeting/reading rehearsal to all interested in participating in the band. The steering committee will meet with the artistic leadership of the band and discuss. Two (possibly more) bands will likely emerge; the competition band - equaling the core of the group and a second larger all inclusive community band. Upon approval of the steering committee and the board of directors of the San Antonio Brass, Inc., performances will include both groups. Next season's programming may also take a slight turn in that it has been suggested by some of the players we should also promote chamber music groups to form within the membership of the band. The NABBA competition also provides chamber music categories for such ensembles from within the bands across the nation to demonstrate their abilities. Including chamber music in our brass band performances provides more interesting programs and gives more musicians a chance to be featured.

Additionally, plans are underway to form a student brass band. We have studied the model of the Fountain City Brass Band, recognized as the top brass band in the United States, and have entered into dialogue with their leadership regarding how to began and maintain a thriving student outreach. We are developing a three year plan to establish a beginning, Middle School, High School and University/young adult brass band program.

The personnel responsible for program leadership and fiscal responsibility include:

Dr. John Carroll - Executive Director/ Principal Trumpet, San Antonio Symphony

Lee Hipp - Education Director/ Principal Tuba, San Antonio Symphony

Jeff Castle - Board Chair/ United States Air Force Band of The West

James C. Kuster - Treasurer/ Certified Public Accountant

Dr. Matthew Mireles - Steering Committee/ Assistant Professor of Music, St. Mary's University

Dave Martinez - Marketing and Brass Band President/ United States Army Band, Retired

Dr. William Wiegard - Librarian

Betsy Jones - North American Brass Band Association Coordinator

John Caputo - Brass Band Consultant

Justin Lerma - Strategy and Operations Consultant/ Grant Writer

The SAB has focused its efforts on working with students from underserved segments of the community. From 2010-2015, 36% of participants in the San Antonio Brass Camp came from homes with a median household income under $50,000; 21% of participants came from Edgewood or San Antonio Independent School Districts; and total female participation grew to 26% with a peak of 33% in 2013. Always seeking to educate San Antonio's musical community, the San Antonio Brass Band recently made all of their rehearsals "open" and invited families and local band directors to observe and participate free of charge. In this environment, band directors are provided a score to the current musical program and learn rehearsal and conducting techniques, and are encouraged to offer their own expertise critiquing the band.

Today, several members of the San Antonio Brass Band and Board of Directors are alumni of the SAB's various educational programs and play an active role helping define the organization's future projects.