The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Music’s Faculty Brass Quintet, in partnership with University Hospital, is set for a new series of monthly “First Thursday” pops concerts in the hospital atrium. The first performance is scheduled for noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, with subsequent concerts scheduled for Oct. 2, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, 2014, as well as Jan. 8, Feb. 5, March 5, April 2 and May 7, 2015. The concerts, designed to offer entertainment for hospital patients, guests and employees, are free and open to the public. This is the second year of the series. It is sponsored by the UAB Hospital Auxiliary, which also provides resources for school programs throughout the Birmingham metropolitan region. These programs aim to raise awareness of UAB and its medical and musical programs to area high school students. The UAB Faculty Brass Quintet is James Zingara and Steve Roberts, trumpets; Martin Cochran, euphonium; Jeff Koonce, trombone; and Scott Robertson, tuba. This group is unique: It is the only year-round faculty brass quintet in the state, and it also carries a euphonium, rather than a French horn, as its alto voice. The quintet was established in 2011 and supports the Department of Music through participation in the annual Brass Symposium, on-campus recitals, regional school performances and clinics, and the university’s fall commencement exercises. The group has premiered seven new works for brass quintet and has taken two European tours, where they performed in Germany, Latvia and the Czech Republic. UAB Faculty Brass Quintet to perform free "First Thursday" concerts at UAB Hospital
by Shannon Thomason
Free one-hour concerts will take place every first Thursday, and will kick off Sept. 4 in the University Hospital atrium.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Music’s Faculty Brass Quintet, in partnership with University Hospital, is set for a new series of monthly “First Thursday” pops concerts in the hospital atrium. The first performance is scheduled for noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, with subsequent concerts scheduled for Oct. 2, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, 2014, as well as Jan. 8, Feb. 5, March 5, April 2 and May 7, 2015. The concerts, designed to offer entertainment for hospital patients, guests and employees, are free and open to the public. This is the second year of the series. It is sponsored by the UAB Hospital Auxiliary, which also provides resources for school programs throughout the Birmingham metropolitan region. These programs aim to raise awareness of UAB and its medical and musical programs to area high school students. The UAB Faculty Brass Quintet is James Zingara and Steve Roberts, trumpets; Martin Cochran, euphonium; Jeff Koonce, trombone; and Scott Robertson, tuba. This group is unique: It is the only year-round faculty brass quintet in the state, and it also carries a euphonium, rather than a French horn, as its alto voice. The quintet was established in 2011 and supports the Department of Music through participation in the annual Brass Symposium, on-campus recitals, regional school performances and clinics, and the university’s fall commencement exercises. The group has premiered seven new works for brass quintet and has taken two European tours, where they performed in Germany, Latvia and the Czech Republic.