Downeast Brass in concert Aug. 16

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Downeast Brass is coming to Rangeley Aug. 16.

RANGELEY – Rangeley Friends of the Arts has coordinated a joint venture with The Oquossoc Lady and Loon Lodge to bring the talented Downeast Brass to Rangeley for a unique evening on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

Prior to arriving at the Loon Lodge dock aboard the historic boat (The Oquossoc Lady) for an 8:15 p.m. public concert, the brass quintet will stop at several private parties along the lake shore. Tickets ($10) for the 45-minute presentation of “Music From The Lake” on the lawn of Loon Lodge are available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce office on 6 Park Road or 864-5364. Bring your chair or blanket and enjoy a gorgeous Rangeley sunset while listening to an evening of beautiful music. Make reservations for an early dinner at Loon Lodge (865-5666) or just come for the concert at 8:15 p.m.; a cash bar will be available.

The Downeast Brass is comprised of five highly experienced musicians from southern and central Maine. They enjoy playing a wide range of styles, from classical to Dixieland, and from parades to wedding ceremonies. As music educators, they seek to reach audiences of all ages with original and entertaining programming.

Trumpeter Dwight Tibbetts received a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from the University of Southern Maine. He has his masters in music from the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon. He was a recipient of the Willie Maiden Award for excellence in composition and arranging. Dwight has taught instrumental music in grades five through 12 for 30 years in Augusta. He has performed throughout Maine, most recently with the Manchester Brass Quintet. Also an accomplished pianist, Dwight arranges most of the music performed by the Downeast Brass.

Andy Forster has been an instrumental music teacher in the Messalonskee School District for 18 years. He received his B.M. in Music Education from the University of New Hampshire and his M.M. in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Massachusetts. Mr. Forster has studied trumpet with John Foss, Robert Stibler, Walter Chesnut and Trent Austin. His conducting teachers include Stanley Hettinger, Malcolm Rowell, and Mark Russel Smith. His professional performing experience includes performances with the Downeast Brass Quintet, the UMF Wind Ensemble, the UMF Orchestra, the Bates College Orchestra, the Colby College Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble, the Al Corey Jazz Orchestra, the Brian Nadeau Big Band, the Mount Washington Hotel Jazz Orchestra, the Mayflower Hill Brass Quintet, the Brass Maineiacs, and numerous musical theater productions.

Mike Peterson teaches instrumental music in the Messalonskee School District. He received his B.M. in Music Education from the University of Maine, and his B.A. in Psychology from the State University of New York at New Paltz. He has studied trombone with Fred Heath, Hal Janks, and Fred “Moe” Snyder. 

Mike was also the primary music director for the Waterville Opera House from January of 2005 through April of 2008, and was a guest music director at Colby College in January of 2007. In addition to the Downeast Brass, Mike performs with the Good-Time Sound barbershop quartet. He resides in Oakland with his wife, Amy, and their daughter, Rosemary.

Mark Mumme is the director of instrumental music at Noble High School in North Berwick. He has also taught in schools in Orono, and Needham, Mass. He holds a master’s degree in music from the University of Maine. Mark is currently a member of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and the Casco Bay Concert Band. He has also played tuba with the Blue Hill Brass Quintet, Mainely Brass, the American Band, and the Colby College Orchestra. Mark is also a bassist who has performed regularly with the Phil Rich Band, and has played in numerous musical theater productions.

D. Loren Fields, french horn, is a graduate of Lawrence High School in Fairfield, where he is presently Director of Bands for grades 7-12. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from the University of Maine at Orono. Loren has performed with the Bangor and Portland Symphonies, as well as numerous local musical theater productions. He has played french horn in the Augusta Wind ensemble, and the Manchester Brass Quintet. He has performed on stage with Barry Manilow and Colin Raye. Loren has studied with Philip Nesbit, Louis Stout, Robert Abernathy, and Charles Kavalovski. In addition he has been coached by Jens Lindemann., Fred Mills, and David Ohanian, all former members of the Canadian Brass.

The Downeast Brass has performed in many New England settings. Audiences have been impressed by these fine Maine performers on the concert stage, at weddings, festivals, and on parade. They have performed at private parties at the Governor’s mansion in Augusta, at the Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, the famous Moxie Parade, and Governor Baldacci’s inauguration ceremony, among many other appearances. Their wide range of musical styles makes them the preferred musical choice for many occasions.

The Downeast Brass’s founder and arranger, Dwight Tibbetts, has kept the unique talents and skills of his colleagues in mind as he has arranged music specifically for the group. From Andy Forster’s pristine high trumpet tones to Mark Mumme’s full bass sonority, the Downeast Brass combines the skills of some of Maine’s premier musicians. Since they are also music educators, they seek to reach audiences of all ages with original and entertaining programming.

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