Brass Seminars
Brass Seminars Overview
On select Wednesday evenings throughout the year, GTCYS brass players will attend Brass Seminar to refine their brass skills and musicianship. These seminars will:
- Build camaraderie and community among the brass players from all of GTCYS’ orchestras
- Create mentorship opportunities between beginning through advanced brass players
- Develop techniques and positive habits for practicing
- Provide more individualized instruction to help you prepare your orchestra parts
Schedule
Please add these classes to your GTCYS time commitment. All classes will be from 7:00pm-8:15pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 S Marquette Ave, Minneapolis. Parking: Free parking is available in the church ramp accessible from Alice Rainville Place. Follow the signs to the rehearsal room upon arrival.
- September 25
- October 16
- November 20
- January 22
- February 19
- March 12
- April 9
Online Calendar
Teachers
Tubist Jason Tanksley is a performer and educator based in Fridley, Minnesota, and is currently the Instructor of Tuba at St. Olaf College. In addition to his work in higher education, Tanksley leads an active career as a performer. He has performed with orchestras including The Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Jacksonville Symphony.
As a soloist, Tanksley has appeared with the International Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Concert Band, Wayne State University Symphony Orchestra, as well as its Wind Symphony. A native of Eastpointe, Michigan, Tanksley graduated from Detroit’s Wayne State University, where he studied with Dennis Nulty. Tanksley also holds a Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied under the instruction of Yasuhito Sugiyama. Tanksley is proudly a B&S and Melton Meinl Weston performing artist and clinician.
Trumpeter Marissa Benedict is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Before leaving for Minnesota she was a freelance trumpet player in Los Angeles for 34 years. She is currently principal trumpet for The Pasadena Symphony/Pasadena Pops and plays regularly with the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Master Chorale.
She recently performed and recorded Mahler’s 8th symphony in the Minnesota Orchestra’s Mahler Project, played for Charles Lazarus’ CD Merrier and Brighter (2022), Jack Stamp’s Chamber Music Volume 1 (released in July 2023), and The Los Angeles Trumpet Ensemble’s Homage (release: August 2023), featuring eight of the top trumpeters in Los Angeles. She also toured with the L.A. Phil on their “Boston to London” tour (2018), and on Asia and Scotland tours (2019). She played for the 2019 Academy Awards (Oscars®) and recorded Celebrating John Williams with the Los Angeles Phil under the direction of Gustavo Dudamel.