Mass Brass & Percussion

An outgrowth of the HSU Band Camp faculty brass choir, Mass Brass and Percussion achieved great success after its founding in 2006, including performances at the Arkansas All State Music Conference, the Four States Music Conference, the Arkansas Bandmasters Association conference, Southern Arkansas University, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and Henderson State University.  Under the direction of retired Henderson faculty member, Dr. Wes Branstine, all of its concerts were free to the public – the group played simply for the love of music.  Mass Brass included college professors and students, school band directors, and other fine musicians from all walks of life.

Mass Brass and Percussion Recordings

Henderson alumni who played trumpet with Mass Brass:

Amy Anderson Jackson
Dan Breshears
Abbie Brown
Dillon Davis
Clayton Harris
Phil Heinemann
Michael Hoover
Craig Ingram
Josh Jackson
David Laubach
Brandon Martindale
Mary Kate McNally
Chris Stevens
Jason Webb
John Webb
Dan Wilson

Mass Brass trumpet players rotated parts throughout each concert, partly out of fairness, but the main reason was survival!

Mass Brass performed 32 times from fall, 2006 to February, 2014:
(click on the date to see the program)

01          Sunday, October 22, 2006 – Benton High School Auditorium
02          Sunday, February 4, 2007 – Southern Arkansas University
03          Sunday, February 11, 2007 – Henderson State University
04          Saturday, February 17, 2007 – All State, Hot Springs Convention Center
05          Sunday, May 6, 2007 – Bismarck High School
06          Sunday, November 4, 2007 – Benton High School Auditorium
07          Friday, January 11, 2008 – Four States Association – Pleasant Grove High School
08          Sunday, May 4, 2008 – Benton High School Auditorium
09          Thursday, July 31, 2008 – Arkansas Bandmasters Association – Fort Smith – Information
10          Sunday, October19, 2008 – Malvern Senior High School
11          Sunday, December 7, 2008 – Arkadelphia First United Methodist
12          Sunday, March 1, 2009 – University of Central Arkansas Snow Fine Arts Recital Hall
13          Sunday, May 3, 2009 – Benton High School Auditorium
14          Sunday, October 25, 2009 – Southern Arkansas University – Harton Theater
—           December 13, 2009 – tba – canceled  due to ice
15          Sunday, February 28, 2010 – University of Arkansas-Monticello
16          Sunday, May 9, 2010 – Hot Springs First United Methodist Church
17          Sunday, October 31, 2010 – Henderson State University Harwood Recital Hall
18          Sunday, December 5, 2010 – Hot Springs First United Methodist Church
19          Sunday, March 13, 2011 – Little Rock Central High School
20          Sunday, May 8, 2011 – Texas High School Sullivan Performing Arts Center
21          Sunday, October 30, 2011 – Lake Hamilton High School Auditorium
22          Sunday, December 4, 2011 – Hot Springs First United Methodist Church
23          Friday, February 17, 2012 – All State, Hot Springs Convention Center
24          Sunday, May 6, 2012 – Hot Springs St. Luke’s Episcopal
25          Sunday, October 28, 2012 – Southern Arkansas University –
Reynolds Campus and Community Center, Grand Hall
26          Sunday, December 9, 2012 – Hot Springs St. Luke’s Episcopal
27          Sunday, February 24, 2013 – Ashdown High School
28          Sunday, May 5, 2013 – Lake Hamilton High School Auditorium
29          Wednesday, July 31, 2013 – ABA – Arkansas Bandmasters Association – Little Rock
30          Sunday, October 27, 2013 – Texas High School Sullivan Performing Arts Center
31          Sunday, December 8, 2013 – Hot Springs St. Luke’s Episcopal
32          Sunday, February 23, 2014 – Henderson State University Harwood Recital Hall

Perhaps in the future, we’ll have time to add more information about Mass Brass and Percussion, but in the meantime, here’s a note from Buckner’s blog:

Yesterday I played at Henderson State in Mass Brass & Percussion — what a blast!  I played 5 different keyed trumpets on 5 pieces with no chance to play a few notes in between: B-flat, D, A piccolo trumpet, E-flat, and C. Years ago I practiced switching back and forth between horns, but nothing like this.

Along with me were two of my former students (Josh Jackson and Brandon Martindale) and three of Don Kramer’s former students (Phil Heinemann, David Laubach, and John Webb).  Altogether, there were 21 different trumpets/flugelhorns on stage.  How could it get better???

Mass Brass Trumpets at All State – Friday, February 16, 2007
Left to right: Amy Whitaker, Clay Harris, Chris Stevens, Jim Buckner, John Webb, Dan Breshears

Sunday, December 7, 2008 – Arkadelphia First United Methodist
Trumpets: Jim Buckner, John Webb, Daniel Wilson, and David Laubach

Mass Brass and Percussion, Southern Arkansas University, October 28, 2012
Trumpets:  David Laubach, John Webb, Phil Heinemann, Jim Buckner

Mass Brass and Percussion at St. Luke’s Episcopal, Hot Springs, December 9, 2012
Trumpets: David Laubach, Phil Heinemann, John Webb, and Jim Buckner

Mass Brass and Percussion at Ashdown, February 24, 2013
Trumpets: Phil Heinemann, David Laubach, John Webb, and Jim Buckner

Dr. Branstine talks to the audience, giving the trumpets a brief rest

Mass Brass and Percussion, Lake Hamilton High School, May 5, 2013
Trumpets: Jim Buckner, John Webb, David Laubach, and Michael Hoover

Mass Brass trumpets at the Arkansas Bandmasters Association convention in Little Rock
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Left to right: Josh Jackson, Phil Heinemann, John Webb, David Laubach, Jim Buckner,
Amy Anderson Jackson