Axiom Brass

Description

Described as “exceptional ambassadors for classical music” and “innovative programmers”, Axiom Brass designs concert experiences for audiences that stretch the imagination and expand sensibilities. Their concert programs regularly pair original works by composers such as George Walker and Augusta Read Thomas with early musical translations by Barbara Strozzi and rousing tangos by Astor Piazzolla. As strong advocates for the creation and performance of “living music”, the ensemble actively engages with their audiences to showcase the importance of performing the music of living composers. Axiom has presented concerts all over the world, including the Merkin Concert Hall in New York City, Shenzhen Concert Hall in China, and Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis in Portugal.

In 2021, to celebrate the centennial of composer Astor Piazzolla, Axiom recorded an album showcasing his music entitled Astor. For their 10th anniversary in 2016, the Chicago-based ensemble commissioned ten new works, five of which can be heard on their album First Impressions.

The only brass ensemble to win the Fischoff Educator Award, Axiom creates custom workshops and residency activities for presenters and their communities. The group’s interactive teaching style has led to residencies at the Grand Tetons Music Festival and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.

Work Sample

"Alloys for Brass Quintet" was written for Axiom Brass by Chicago--based composer Kari Watson in 2021. This six minute piece is featured on Axiom's flagship concert program, Limitless. The piece is paired with the projection of sound reactive software which allows Axiom Brass to 'paint a picture' with our sounds in real time. This recording is from a live performance in Kelowna, British Columbia on October 26th, 2021.

"Music for Brass: Sacred and Profane" was composed by American, Pulitzer-Prize winning composer George Walker. As a centennial celebration of Mr. Walker's (1922-2018) groundbreaking life as a composer, Axiom Brass is featuring his ten-minute masterpiece regularly during our 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. This performance is of excerpts of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th movements of the composition from our December 16th, 2021 presentation at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago.

This performance of "Suite from Maria de Buenos Aires" by Astor Piazzolla (and transcribed for brass quintet by Axiom's Dorival Puccini) was performed on March 21st, 2022 for the Chamber Music on the Fox series in Elgin. Axiom has recorded an entire album of Piazzolla's tangos and his music is frequently featured on one of our most popular concert programs - Lust, Mystery, and Despair (optional alternate title Love, Mystery, and Despair). The twelve minute suite makes up three of the ten tracks of Axiom's latest album "Astor".

The video of Kari Watson's "Alloys for Brass Quintet" exemplifies Axiom's commitment to celebrating new, original compositions for brass quintet and innovating the audience experience beyond the traditional concert setting. In addition to the work by Kari Watson, Axiom has recently commissioned Kevin Day, Lillian Yee, David Lipten, Claudio de Freitas, and Jordyn Davis. The reactive software used in this video makes a variety of appearances with different artistic intentions throughout the "Limitless" show.

Axiom is a champion of original music for brass quintet and celebrating monumental composers in our genre. In addition to the music shared by George Walker, Axiom regularly performs original works for brass quintet by notable American composers including Augusta Read Thomas, Joan Tower, and Christopher Rouse.

Axiom has developed an incredible array of musical translations for brass quintet. Our performances of Piazzolla's tangos are beloved by our audience and we frequently hear similar enthusiasm for our groundbreaking transcriptions of madrigals by Italian composer Barbara Strozzi.

History

Formed in 2007 Axiom Brass is a brass quintet that specializes in performing original compositions for brass quintet and works by living composers, supplemented with transcriptions of early music from the predecessors of our modern instruments and translations of music by Latin composers. Axiom has a proven track record of expanding the diversity of brass quintet repertoire with commissions and translations of music by underrepresented composers. Described as “exceptional ambassadors for classical music” and “innovative programmers” Axiom Brass is the most awarded brass quintet in North America having won the prestigious Fischoff Educator Award, as well as being the only brass quintet in 37 years to win the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition in Ohio, and the only American ensemble to ever win the Preis der Europa-Stadt Passau in Germany among many other achievements.

In addition to performing in 33 states and 10 countries, the group’s commitment to education and their interactive teaching style has led to residencies at the Grand Tetons Music Festival, the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the Ravinia Festival and Universities across the world including Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Artistic Vision

Axiom Brass seeks to advance the art of brass chamber music by creating and promoting art that is a reflection of our current society while sharing our art with audiences around the world. Axiom brings audiences compelling chamber music experiences through world class performance of contemporary brass music and artful translations of early music and Latin American music and creates multidisciplinary concert experiences that bring together music, visual art and science. Axiom seeks to expand and diversify the brass chamber music repertoire by commissioning new works.

This dynamic blend of styles allows us to present a unique concert experience. Two concerts we are presenting this season are Limitless and Love, Mystery & Despair (LMD). Limitless is a “wonderfully innovative and inspiring” multimedia concert experience exploring the connection between human existence and the furthest reaches of the cosmos. With original compositions paired with stunning visuals and reactive sound-to-video effects, Limitless ventures beyond the traditional boundaries of the concert hall. The program includes music by George Walker, Augusta Read Thomas, and Reena Esmail. LMD is a love affair with the romance, mystery, and intrigue of Latin Music highlighting Astor Piazzolla’s tangos, Cacilda Barbosa’s luscious harmonies, and Lillian Yee’s bossa-inspired sound world.

Programs for Specific Audience(s) Expertise

Axiom's educational show "Let's Make Music" has been heard by thousands of elementary students across the United States and Canada. Axiom is skilled at developing student engagement during this show to teach them about melody, rhythm, conducting, how to play a brass instrument, and more. This show has been regularly presented at schools across Chicagoland through partnerships with the Ravinia Festival's ReachTeachPlay program and the International Music Foundation.