WINSTON-SALEM, NC: This upcoming weekend the North Carolina Brass Band will open their 10th anniversary season! The ensemble is a 28-member band with “a dedicated group of world-class professional musicians.” says Founder, Executive Director, and Music Director, Brian Meixner. After the band was established in 2014, an early priority was to record an album instead of immediately concertizing. Meixner says “It was an inspiring time for all involved, which really jump started the energy we feel within the organization to this day.”

The NCBB is one of only a small handful of professional brass bands in the entire United States and brings “a unique cultural presence” to the state. Their concerts connect to all audiences by providing diverse programming through classical, jazz, pop, movie-music, and patriotic pieces. According to Meixner, “it is not uncommon to see ‘shenanigans’ on stage and musicians in funny costumes! The repertoire and nature of the concert experience make it appealing to folks of all ages and musical interests.”

In the last decade, the band has continued to grow together by recording a second album, performing in indoor concert halls and outdoor venues in communities across North Carolina, and expanding their programming to reach wider audiences. The band has been featured at regional and national festivals, and conferences – such as the 2022 Best of Our State Festival – and tracks from their albums have been broadcasted globally, including on the BBC. Looking ahead, the band aims to continue expanding programming and establish more of a foothold in the Triad, as well as throughout the state – “We are, after all, the ‘North Carolina’ Brass Band and hope to be a musical organization that represents ALL of North Carolina” The ensemble plans to continue recording, expand video content, and broaden collaborations to include additional and diverse artists.

This upcoming season features three concerts: “Brass and Pipes” September 27th & 29th with organist Evan Currie, “Christmas Wrapped in Brass” in early December with resident soprano Lindsay Kesselman, and “NCBB’s Birthday Bash” in late March–a Happy Birthday and Anniversary celebration of the band with international jazz sensation Gunhild Carling.

Congratulations to the North Carolina Brass Band on a wonderful past decade and here’s to many more!

For information about the opening concerts this coming weekend, see our calendar.