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