May 31, 2006
Joel Mason
13007 Branscomb Dr.
Huntsville, AL 38503
Dear Joel,
It is with great enthusiasm that I submit to you, the conductor of the Brass Band of Huntsville, this letter in enthusiastic and wholehearted support of your application to the Alabama Music Educators Association for inclusion of the BBH on the performance program of the upcoming 2007 AMEA Conference. As you know, I remain personally and musically acquainted with many of the BBH members as well as with its founder, Paul Zubrod. Since coming to Alabama in 2002 I have continued to be impressed by the dedication of all who are involved in the BBH and whose efforts and excellent musicianship are directed to the furtherance of brass band music in our state and region.
I was especially pleased to invite the brass band to participate as a featured ensemble on the program of the Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition which I hosted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in November, 2005. This world-class event, jointly sponsored by the International Trumpet Guild and the Columbus Foundation of Ohio, not only brought to our state five of the worldÆs most outstanding young professional trumpeters but also several of the worldÆs most prominent trumpet artists who served as judges for the competition. I was particularly delighted to invite Philip Smith, Principal Trumpet of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and James Watson, Artistic Director and Head of Brass at the Royal Academy of Music (UK), to perform as soloists with the BBH.
The large audience attending that concert was stunned by the high level of technical and musical skill consistently demonstrated by the BBH throughout its featured portion of the program. The bandÆs superb sound, intonation and technical abilities were only outshone by the enthusiasm and excitement they brought to that performance. Additionally, both Mr. Smith ands Mr. Watson were extremely complimentary of the outstanding accompaniments the band provided in support of these two world-class solo artists. Mr. Watson, former conductor of the famed Blackdyke Band in the UK, was sincere in his numerous expressions of appreciation for the bandÆs playing under his conductorship. Needless to say, I was proud of the band for representing our state and region so well that evening by virtue of their demonstrated musical excellence.
While brass band music in the British model is a relatively new performance genre in our state, as you well know, it is enjoying ever increasing popularity throughout the USA. To a large extent, this is because of the outstanding work of bands like the BBH and the North American Brass Band Association which now numbers thirty brass bands in 19 states and whose membership roster also includes the Brass Band of Huntsville. Additionally, the successes of professional brass bands such as the River City Brass Band and the Brass Band of Battle Creek, lend further strength to the relevancy of brass band music to American musical life and, by natural and logical extension, to music education in the US at large. An appearance by the BBH at the AMEA conference would bring important exposure of brass band music to the attention of Alabama music educators state-wide as a viable and potentially important performance genre for brass wind students and players of all ages and levels of
accomplishment.
Having performed as soloist in numerous occasions with brass bands in Europe and the USA, including EURO-BRASS 2002, the Jaren (Norway) Brass Band and the 1988 world champion Gothenburg Brass Band, I am very well acquainted with the high standards which exist internationally and nationally within the brass band fraternity. I am pleased to attest to the Brass Band of HuntsvilleÆs outstanding efforts to adhere to those high standards and I am especially enthusiastic in recommending the BBH to the Alabama Music Educators Association and to all Alabama band directors for inclusion of the BBH on the 2007 AMEA conference program.
Fraternally yours,
Leonard A. Candelaria, DMus
Associate Professor of Music-Trumpet
Artist in Residence
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Professor of Music emeritus, University of North Texas
1995-97 President, International Trumpet Guild
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