Please join us for the next installment of the Deerfield Recital Series on Friday, September 23rd, at 7:30pm.
The Westminster Brass with Evelyn R. Larter will be providing a free concert of classical, popular & sacred music in the sanctuary of Deerfield Presbyterian Church.
A Freewill offering will be collected along with a Meet-the Artists Reception to follow.
Westminster Brass
A brass quintet performing for the glory of God
Westminster Brass has specialized in presenting sacred music concerts throughout the United States and Canada since 1976. Each member brings with him years of experience performing with such notable organizations as The Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Delaware Symphony Orchestra. Some of the members have performed under the batons of Eugene Ormandy, Leonard Bernstein, Riccardo Muti, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Christoph Eschenbach and Charles Dutoit in such great American concert halls as Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
Members of Westminster Brass have earned degrees from The Curtis Institute, New England Conservatory, The College of New Jersey, Temple University and Westminster Theological Seminary. Their professional background includes:
- James Hala, trumpet – Director of Westminster Brass, Instructor of Instrumental Music at The College of New Jersey, Principal trumpet of the Ocean City Pops Orchestra, Freelance musician.
- Kenneth Laudermilch, principal trumpet – Music Director of the New Holland Band, Author of books and articles on music performance, Principal trumpet of the Chester County Pops Orchestra, formerly Professor of Instrumental Music and Director of the Wind Ensemble and Concert Band at West Chester University and Principal trumpet of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra.
- Kathryn Mehrtens, horn – Instructor of Horn and Director of the Horn Ensemble at The College of New Jersey, Principal horn for the Broadway show orchestras in Philadelphia and Third horn in the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, Freelance musician.
- Thomas Elliott, trombone – Music Director of Lower Merion High School’s Bands and Orchestra, Creator of the children’s music education character, Maestro the Lion, formerly Principal trombone with the Valley Forge Music Fair Orchestra and Freelance musician.
- Timothy Witmer, tuba – Pastor of Crossroads Community Church, PCA, Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary, Director of The Shepherd’s Institute, Author of numerous books and articles on pastoring, formerly a Member of the Rittenhouse Brass Quintet and Philly Pops Orchestra.
- Susan Jones, timpani, percussion – Instructor of Percussion at the Settlement Music School, Principal timpanist and percussionist with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, Member of the Philadelphia Opera Company, Orchestra 2001 and the West Jersey Chamber Orchestra.
The quintet is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is a regular part of Tenth Presbyterian Church’s music ministry. The group is frequently heard on Family Radio and “The Bible Study Hour.” The ensemble has long been an integral part of the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology and Ligonier Ministries Conferences.
Westminster Brass receives its name from the Westminster Confession of Faith. The purpose of the group is to perform sacred music as excellently as possible for the glory of God.
Westminster Brass has produced five recordings. Information on how to purchase recordings may be found on the web at www.westminsterbrass.com.
