Buzz Brass
Trumpets, horn and trombones
PHOTO | Michel_Bérard
famous inspirations
trumpetS, horn and tromboneS
Have you heard the buzz? Brass takes on a fresh shine with dynamic performance and fresh, stimulating interaction, as classics you know and love are reinterpreted through trumpet, horn and trombone. With a knack for creating engaging concerts which appeal to a wide audience, Buzz Brass is establishing itself as an adept Canadian brass quintet.
The group has taken top awards at the Prix Opus (Opus Awards) and the Association québécoise de l’industrie du disque (ADISQ) and the Trille Or Awards, and were among the Top 10 Picks at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival | The History of Music.
Capable of transporting audiences from familiar classical masterworks to peppy ragtime-era tunes through to the jazz of Gershwin and a dreamy, poetic treatment of Satie’s Gymnopédie No. 3, Buzz Brass has collaborated with established symphony orchestras including those of Gatineau, Winnipeg, Quebec City and Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra.
This is brass at its best, delivered with intelligence, whimsy and skill.
CONCERTS
2023
Concert | Friday November 24, 2023
Minnedosa, MB | Tanners Crossing School | Minnedosa Performing Arts Committee
Concert | Saturday November 25, 2023
Souris, MB | St. Paul’s United Church | Souris District Arts Council
Concert | Tuesday November 28, 2023
Regina, SK | Darke Hall | Regina Musical Club
Concert | Wednesday November 29, 2023
Yorkton, SK | St. Andrew’s United Church | Yorkton Arts Council
Concert | Friday December 1, 2023
Strathmore, AB | Strathmore United Church | Arts on 817
Concert | 7:30 pm | Saturday December 2, 2023
High River, AB | High River United Church | High River Gift of Music
Concert | 1:30 + 7:30 pm | Sunday December 3, 2023
Stettler, AB | The Performing Arts Centre | Stettler Variety Showcase
Concert | 7:30 pm | Monday December 4, 2023
Fort McMurray | Keyano Theatre and Arts Centre
Concert | 7:30 pm | December 5, 2023
St. Albert, AB | Arden Theatre
2024
Concert | 7:30 pm | Wednesday January 10, 2024
Assiniboia, SK | Prince of Wales Cultural & Recreation Centre
Assiniboia & District Arts Council
Concert | 7:30 pm | Thursday January 11, 2024
Swift Current, SK | Living Sky Casino Event Centre | Swift Current Arts Council
Concert | 7:30 pm | Friday January 12, 2024
Watrous, SK | Watrous Civic Centre | Watrous Area Arts Council
Concert | Monday January 15, 2024
Estevan, SK | St. Paul’s United Church | Estevan Arts Council
Concert | 7:30 pm | Thursday January 18, 2024
Prince Albert, SK | E.A. Rawlinson Centre
Concert | Friday January 19, 2024
Rosthern, SK | Station Arts Centre
Concert | Saturday January 20, 2024
Tisdale, SK | Maurice Taylor Performing Arts Theatre | Tisdale Arts Council
Concert | 7:30 pm | Monday January 22, 2024
Biggar, SK | Majestic Theatre | Biggar & District Arts Council
Concert | 7:30 pm | Tuesday January 23, 2024
North Battleford, SK | Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts
Concert | Wednesday April 17, 2024
Steinbach, MB | venue TBA | Steinbach Arts Council
Concert | Thursday April 18, 2024
Carman, MB | Carman Collegiate Community Theatre | Golden Prairie Arts Council
Concert | 7:30 pm | Friday April 19, 2024
Pinawa, MB | Pinawa Community Centre | Eastern Manitoba Concert Association
Concert | Saturday April 20, 2024
Oakbank, MB | Cooks Creek Community Centre | Sunrise Performing Arts Centre
“The musical environment they create radiates with a bright and golden glow …. memorable melodies such as Satie’s Gymnopédies and Dvorak’s famous American Quartet (originally for strings) find themselves enhanced, almost sharper.”
– Ici Musique
Sylvain LaPointe (founder/trumpet)
Frédéric Gagnon (principal trumpet)
Pascal Lafreniére (horn)
Jason de Carufel (trombone)
Sylvain Arsenal (bass trombone)
BIOGRAPHY
Buzz Brass quintet—an ensemble consisting of two trumpets, horn, trombone and bass trombone—has been travelling the world since 2002 and captivating classical music enthusiasts everywhere. Whether alone or along with guest musicians, Buzz Brass’s highly original performances never fail to make a positive impression. The ensemble has performed over 1,700 concerts for more than 400,000 music lovers across North America, Europe and China. Over the years, Buzz Brass has earned numerous awards and honours, including the Opus, ADISQ and Trille Or prizes, in recognition of the quality and renown of its performances. With its innovative programs, acclaimed recordings, unique repertoire and broad appeal, the group has become one of Canada’s most beloved brass quintets. Its appearances abroad (2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 2016 Meet in Beijing Arts Festival and 2018 Chamber Music America in New York City) have showcased the skill of Canadian musicians and inspired young people around the world. Recent Buzz projects have included partnerships with symphony orchestras, including those in Gatineau, Sherbrooke, Winnipeg, and Quebec City as well as with Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. The quintet has already recorded six albums, with other releases planned.
BIOGRAPHIE
Depuis 2002, le quintette Buzz Cuivres parcourt la planète pour séduire les amateurs de musique classique. Que ce soit par des concerts de quintette de cuivres seul ou incluant des musiciens invités, les propositions artistiques originales qu’il présente ne laissent personne indifférent. Avec au-delà de 1700 représentations à son actif, l’ensemble a rejoint plus de 400 000 mélomanes en Amérique du Nord, en Europe et en Chine. Les nombreux prix et distinctions que Buzz Cuivres a reçus au fil des années (Opus, ADISQ, Trille Or) témoignent de la qualité et de la pertinence de ses prestations musicales. Grâce à plusieurs programmes innovateurs, des enregistrements méritoires, un répertoire unique et une vision des concerts classiques qui rejoint un large auditoire, le groupe figure désormais parmi les quintettes de cuivres les plus réputés du Canada. Ses apparitions à l’étranger (Fringe Festival, Édimbourg, 2015 ; Meet in Beijing Arts Festival, Beijing, 2016 ; Chamber Music America, New York, 2018) font rayonner le savoir-faire des musiciens canadiens et inspirent les jeunes de partout à faire l’apprentissage de la musique. Ses nouvelles productions l’amènent maintenant à collaborer avec des Orchestres symphoniques reconnus tels ceux de Québec, de Winnipeg, de Gatineau et de Sherbrooke de même que celui du Centre national des Arts d’Ottawa. Le quintette a aussi déjà six albums à son actif et prévoit d’autres lancements.
AWARDS
Nominee – OPUS Award 2017
Winner – Three Weeks Edinburgh Editor’s Award 2015
Ten 10 Picks (History of Music) – 2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Winner – TRILLE OR Award 2015
Winner – OPUS Award 2014
Finalist – Jeunesses Musicales Internationales’ Young Audiences Music Awards 2012
Production of the Year | The History of Music
Nominee – ADISQ 2010
Album of the Year – Classical – Solo and Small Ensemble | The Planets
Winner – OPUS Award 2007
PHOTO CREDIT | Michel_Bérard
“A first-class brass quintet, with a likeable flair for humour and for pleasing a crowd without uttering a word.”
– Three Weeks Edinburgh
