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 and click on a date below to learn more about the topic! All classes will be 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. Come enjoy an end of year concert for families and friends to celebrate everything learned in Brass Seminar! This event is closed to the public.
Online Calendar
Brass Seminar Teachers
Tubist Jason Tanksley is a dynamic tubist, performer, and educator based in Minnesota. Currently serving as the Instructor of Tuba at St. Olaf College, he has dedicated his career to both high-level performance and the mentorship of emerging musicians. At the heart of his work is a deep belief that classical music is for everyone —a philosophy that drives both his performances and his teaching. Through his artistry, he strives to create welcoming, inclusive spaces where music can connect and inspire As an educator, Jason has shared his expertise through masterclasses at institutions such as Wright State University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Missouri-Kansas City, the National Costa Rican Institute of Music, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of musicians, helping them find their artistic voices while pushing the boundaries of what the tuba can do. Above all, he hopes to foster an environment where all students—regardless of background—feel welcomed, supported, and inspired to grow as musicians and individuals. Jason earned his Master of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied with Yasuhito Sugiyama, and his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University under Dennis Nulty.
Hornist Ellen Dinwiddie Smith made history as the Minnesota Orchestra’s first-ever female brass player upon joining the ensemble in 1993. Her trailblazing career, during which she held both low and high horn chairs, is a rare feat among major orchestras. Smith’s influence extends beyond Minnesota, as she also held positions with the Fort Worth (Co-Principal) and Charleston, SC (Third) Symphonies. Her professional career spans over 40 years, during which she has performed on stages worldwide, from Europe, Japan, South Africa, to the West and East Coast, including Carnegie Hall. Smith’s pioneering role as a female brass player continues to inspire musicians at all levels of development.
As a pedagogue, Smith has given lectures and master classes worldwide and is a regular featured artist at international music conventions and festivals. She is also a Professor of Horn at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities). She is dedicated to teaching young people to fully develop their potential. Her students now hold positions all over the globe as performers, educators, and scholars, as well as in many other occupations (too many to mention!). Smith is a Curtis Institute of Music graduate who studied with Myron Bloom. Before Curtis, she attended the Juilliard School and the University of Texas at Austin. Additional teachers and mentors include Wayne Barrington, Greg Hustis, and Michael Hatfield.