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Cincinnati Brass Band
Cincinnati, OH
About
The Cincinnati Brass Band was founded in 1993 and organized by William Harvey, Anita Cocker Hunt, and Drew Cremisio. The Cincinnati Brass Band is the premier brass band of Cincinnati, dedicated to musical excellence, community engagement, and the celebration of the brass band tradition. The ensemble is composed of musicians of all ages and backgrounds from across the greater Cincinnati area. Recognized by the mayor as the Official Brass Band of Cincinnati, the band performs concerts consistently throughout the year collaborating with other members of the greater Cincinnati arts community, including the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Preparatory, Xavier University, and many other schools throughout the area. The band also seeks new and exciting performance opportunities. Recent ventures include performances at the Great American Brass Band Festival and the unique and historic Sorg Opera House. The band is also proud to have shared the stage with world-renowned ensembles, including The Canadian Brass, an experience that highlights its commitment to artistic growth and collaboration at the highest level. In addition to its concert season, the band is a competitively successful ensemble, representing Cincinnati on the national stage each year at the NABBA Championships, Dublin Festival of Brass, and Wurst Festival. Whether performing locally or nationally, the band remains committed to excellence, innovation, and enriching the cultural life of Cincinnati through outstanding brass music.
Musical Director
Dr. Joshua K. Thompson
Dr. Joshua K. Thompson is the fourth music director in the Cincinnati Brass Band’s history. In addition to conducting the band, he is the Orchestra Director at Winton Woods High school. He grew up in Ohio and attended Miami University, where he graduated cum laude with degrees in Music Education and Music Performance. After completing his Masters Degree in Music at Bowling Green State University, he completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa. Before returning to the Cincinnati area, he served at several universities in the Midwest, having taught Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Brass Choir, Jazz Ensemble, and numerous other courses. Dr. Thompson has been an active guest conductor, honor band conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, and has also enjoyed a varied and active performing career as an orchestral trumpeter, chamber musician, and soloist. He was previously the Music Director of the Eastern Iowa Brass Band (now 'Iowa Brass') and has also performed on cornet with the Chicago Brass Band.
Choice Program
Of Distant Memories
Edward Gregson
Program Notes
Of Distant Memories is one continuous movement and opens with a rather slow, broodingly ‘Romantic’ melody, which becomes the main reference point of the entire work. The mood then changes and the music bursts into life, firstly with a fast and virtuosic scherzo, then with an heroic march. The mood changes yet again, and we are now transported into the world of English modal folk song, with thinly veiled scoring supporting lyrical solos for all the main soloists in the band. Linking all these sections together are references to the opening tune, transformed and varied each time. The fast music returns, eventually leading to a majestic recapitulation of the opening melody. A triumphant coda brings the work to a fitting climax. The work was jointly commissioned by the Black Dyke Band and the Worshipful Company of Musicians (with funding generously provided by John Iles, grandson of the great John Henry Iles, the impresario without whom there would be no such repertoire or tradition). It was premiered at the RNCM Festival of Brass in January 2013, and then used as the test piece for the National Brass Band Championship of Great Britain, held at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in October 2013, The winning band on that occasion was the Cory Band from South Wales.
NABBA Results History (22)
| Section | Best Finish | Wins |
|---|---|---|
| Honors | 1st | 2 |
| Challenge | 1st | 2 |
| Second | 2nd | — |
| First | 5th | — |
| Event | Section | Place | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championships 2026 | First | 5th | 88.933 | |
| Dublin Festival of Brass | Open Competition | — | — | |
| NABBA Championships 2025 | Second | 5th | 89.467 | |
| NABBA Championships 2024 | Second | 2nd | 93.483 | |
| NABBA Championships 2023 | Second | 6th | 88.433 | |
| NABBA Championships 2022 | Second | 2nd | 89.267 | |
| NABBA Championships 2019 | Second | 9th | 266.400 | |
| NABBA Championships 2018 | Second | 3rd | 275.000 | |
| NABBA Championships 2017 | Second | 5th | 272.000 | |
| NABBA Championships 2012 | First | 8th | 261.000 | |
| NABBA Championships 2011 | First | 6th | 249.400 | |
| NABBA Championships 2008 | Honors | 5th | 266.800 | |
| NABBA Championships 2007 | Honors | 4th | 266.000 | |
| NABBA Championships 2006 | Honors | 2nd | 265.000 | |
| NABBA Championships 2005 | Honors | 3rd | 275.200 | |
| NABBA Championships 2004 | Honors | 3rd | 273.400 | |
| NABBA Championships 2003 | Honors | 1st | 273.000 | |
| NABBA Championships 2001 | Honors | 4th | 266.200 | |
| NABBA Championships 1999 | Honors | 1st | 277.200 | |
| NABBA Championships 1998 | Challenge | 4th | 265.000 | |
| NABBA Championships 1997 | Challenge | 1st | 268.000 | |
| NABBA Championships 1996 | Challenge | 1st | 262.000 |