arts & entertainment

Brass concerts are not just for Christmas! While often heard during the Yuletide season, the full and majestic sound of music made with brass instruments has filled the air for centuries. And now, brass lovers can get an earful with a free afternoon performance by the Gainesville Brass Quintet, who will make a tour stop in Vero Beach on Sunday, January 18.

Their 4:00 PM concert will be hosted by the church long known for its musical outreach, First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard. Since 1985, the Gainesville Brass Quintet has performed the best in light classics, in addition to quintet literature from the Baroque through the modern eras. Not surprisingly, the January 18 concert repertoire will span the centuries, with works from the late Renaissance to the present.

The audience will hear North Florida’s premier brass group perform Gabrieli’s Canzon #2 alongside the modern rock anthem, “YMCA.” The diverse program will juxtapose the traditional, “Old Rugged Cross,” with “Palladio,” by modern Welsh composer, Karl Jenkins. Tunes from New Orleans and a variety of other selections will be announced from the bandstand. The Gainesville Brass Quintet is led by founding member and trumpet player, Joseph Jamerson and is comprised of symphony musicians and ex-military band members. Admission is free. For more information, call (772) 562-9088.       

Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, is more than ready to welcome back the talented group from Gainesville.

“The audience is always enthusiastic when we host the Gainesville Brass Quintet,” said Dr. Craig. “This is the sixth time they will be performing for us. Each concert has been better than the last, filled with energy, precision and the pure sound that is uniquely brass.” 

The Gainesville Brass Quintet concert is just one of many events sponsored or hosted by First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, known for its musical and artistic outreach to the Central Florida community. For a list of upcoming events or for more information about First Presbyterian of Vero Beach, visit www.FirstPresVero.org.