Founded in 2016, the Palouse Brass is a group of university, college, public school, and private school music educators. The group is administered by Executive Director, Dr. Jason M. Johnston, and conducted by Dr. Danh Pham.
Our founding members include:
Conductor:
Danh Pham, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Washington State University.
Trumpet:
Tina Anderson, Adjunct Trumpet Faculty at Washington State University
Sean Butterfield, Clinical Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Music Theory at the University of Idaho
Gary Gemberling, Lecturer of Music and Director of Bands at Whitman College
Vern Sielert, Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Idaho
Horn:
Jason Johnston, Assistant Professor of Horn and Concert Band at the University of Idaho
Martin King: Clinical Assistant Professor of Music and Music Education at Washington State University.
Trombone/Euphonium:
Al Gemberling, Professor Emeritus at the University of Idaho
Albert Miller, Instructor of Music and Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at Washington State University.
Sarah Miller, Clinical Assistant Professor of Music and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at Washington State University
Matt Shipes, Former Assistant Professor of Tuba and Aural Skills at the University of Idaho
Tuba/Euphonium:
Chris Dickey, Clinical Associate Professor of Music and Film Music at Washington State University
Tuba:
Torrey Lawrence, Professor of Music and Vice Provost for Faculty at the University of Idaho
Our Mission
The Palouse Brass coordinates with its community as well as existing music programs in order to enhance awareness of the performing arts and promote the appreciation of chamber music and its literature through education, performance, and collaboration.
Our Founding
The Palouse Brass came to be after a conversation I had with my colleague, Dr. Miranda Wilson, Associate Professor of Cello at the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho. Miranda asked me a simple question, “Hey Jason, do you want to play something for the 6th Annual Idaho Bach Festival?” Without any hesitation, I jubilantly expounded with a yes!
I was fortunate to perform with two impactful 11-piece brass ensembles while working in Colorado and Wyoming. I performed and recorded with The Denver Brass under the directorship of Kathy Brantigan (ensemble founder and former Professor of Tuba at the University of Denver), the baton of Ken Singleton (a prolific arranger for the ensemble and former Director of Bands at the University of Northern Colorado), and producer Warren Deck (Professor of Music at the University of Denver and former Principal Tuba of the New York Philharmonic). The Denver Brass provided my first exposure to the genre of the American brass ensemble. Furthermore, I attended college with a good friend and member of the ensemble, Andy Wolfe. Andy has become a highly sought after composer and arranger having written several original works for The Denver Brass.
The most common arrangement for such an ensemble is with 4 trumpets, 2 horns, 2 tenor trombones, 1 bass trombone, 1 euphonium, and 1 tuba. However, The Denver Brass used a slightly different instrumentation with 4 trumpets, 2 horns, 2 tenor trombones with one of them doubling on euphonium, 1 bass trombone and 2 tubas.
The second ensemble with whom I performed is the Boulder Brass led by their Executive Director, Michael Allen. Mike is thought to be one of the preeminent arrangers of brass ensemble music – especially due to his passion for Bach, Farnby, the Fitzwilliam Virginal book, and other early western composers and collections. His arrangements are played all over the world by some of the greatest brass musicians to walk this planet. It is with this group where I moved from having an idle interest with this genre to becoming passionate with it. I learned the behind the scenes frenetic goings-on associated with running a performance based business by learning the ins and outs of programming, preparation, financing, scheduling, and arranging.
My enthusiasm for brass music would not have been possible without the tremendous impact delivered by some of my best friends who all play/ed with the Apollo Chamber Brass.. Throughout the years, several members have gone on to teach at popular tertiary institutions and considerable symphony orchestra organizations. I am fortunate to currently work with one of them at the Lionel Hampton School of Music, Dr. Sean Butterfield. Another founding member of the group is only three hours away at Central Washington University, Dr. John Neurohr. Trumpet player, Andrew Bishop, is becoming a popular engraver and arranger for the brass ensemble genre. Andrew spends considerable efforts within the realms of Renaissance music with particular interest in Gabrieli and Monteverdi.
After several quick conversations with the brass faculty members of Washington State University and the University of Idaho (whose campuses are separated by 10 miles and a state line), it became apparent there is a need for the creation of an 11-piece brass ensemble in the greater Palouse area. Per Miranda’s request, we were able to share one tune that would serve to close a collage concert featuring several great works by Bach. I chose the “Great” Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, BWV 542 by J.S. Bach arranged Michael Allen. We were met with uproarious applause followed by several days of congratulatory adulation. This kind support was enough to garner an invitation to play again the following year but with one caveat – to perform a full length concert as a featured ensemble. We have been a part of the Idaho Bach Festival since!
-Jason M. Johnston
the Palouse Brass Company 