The Great Lakes Brass Quintet

The Great Lakes Brass Quintet put on a concert at First Presbyterian Church in Saginaw on Sunday. The musical composition of the brass band included two trumpets, a French horn, a trombone, and a tuba. Each instrument had its own purpose and unique sound to complement each of the tunes. 

When I was in high school, I played the clarinet in the marching band. I always found the brass instruments to be the highlight of the shows, and as much as I loved my clarinet, the big, bold, bombastic brass instruments always stole the show with their triumphant sounds. The Great Lakes Brass Quinet showed me that brass instruments are more versatile than I once thought. Brass instruments can be quite soft and soothing in the right circumstances. They offer a wide range of dynamics and musical styles depending on the sound or feeling you are trying to achieve. When done correctly, brass instruments seem to fit most if not all musical moods. 

The concert was packed with a diversity of songs across many eras of music. Norman Wika, the trombone player in the quintet who also serves as the Director of Bands at Saginaw Valley State University, stated that the selection of music took the audience through some “temporal whiplash.”  From the days of baroque to southern and folk, the selections showed off the versatility of a brass band and its unique ability to mold itself to fit several different musical genres and styles. Selections included “Down by the Riverside,” “12th Street Rag,” “Ol’ Man River,” and “When I’m 64,” to name a few. 

The concert was fast-paced and lively, keeping the audience entertained and engaged throughout. There were virtually no pauses for breaks aside from a brief intermission, which kept the concert rolling and anything but boring. The acoustics in the First Presbyterian Church sanctuary were excellent and complemented the five-man band well. Musicians included Norman Wika on trombone, Matthew Ingersoll on trumpet, Quinton Larion on trumpet, and Zach VanderGraaff on tuba. Each musician had a unique role in the concert, and with only five brass instruments, one would think an error, such as a missed or misplaced note, would be easy to hear. Throughout the performance, I couldn’t detect a single mistake, and I could tell the musicians put great effort and energy into their work.  

I recognized some members of the Saginaw community in the audience, especially some fellow members of my own church, Second Presbyterian. If word spreads about these concerts, which are hidden gems of talent in Saginaw, then I am sure community members will continue to flock to the churches and concert halls to listen to the distinctive musical talent Saginaw offers.