Brass Out Loud Benefit Concert

Christopher Bill is an American trombonist, composer, arranger, music director, and YouTuber. He presents classically arranged popular songs multi-tracked on trombone, both live and in music videos found on his YouTube channel, ClassicalTrombone, which he introduced in 2011.

Bill performs a variety of music styles, from classical and jazz to pop and rock. Aside from original work, his discography contains covers of songs by other musicians and various soundtracks.

Bill has also held positions as music director for episodes of Stargirl and Stranger Things.

His cover version of Pharrell Williams' "Happy" went viral in 2014. As of September 2015, his ClassicalTrombone YouTube channel exceeded 100,000 subscribers and over 10 million total views.

Since its inception in 2017, Metropolitan Horn Authority has been the premier contemporary horn ensemble of New York City. Combining elements of classical, jazz, and pop, MHA strives to create a unique musical experience for the listener. MHA's mission is to educate and perform for a wide variety of audiences, as well as expand the horn's boundaries with new music, venues, and genres. Metropolitan Horn Authority most recently performed and gave a masterclass at Virginia Commonwealth University. MHA's next performances are at Greig Farm in Red Hook on June 25th, Rockwood Music Hall on July 1st, and performing as artists-in-residence at the Pierrot Chamber Festival on July 21st.  

eGALitarian Brass is a classical quintet by day and a brass band by night consisting of Kate Amrine and Melissa Muñoz on Trumpet, Blair Hamrick on french horn, Julie Dombroski on trombone, and Heather Ewer on tuba. eGALitarian Brass is dedicated to performing and commissioning new works by diverse composers and breaking boundaries of chamber music today as a classical quintet. We prioritize performing music by diverse composers and commissioning new repertoire with an emphasis on music by women composers, who have often been historically underrepresented in brass repertoire. eGALitarian Brass also performs as a brass band, collaborating with Shelby Blezinger-McCay on drums; performing jazz, commercial and New Orleans music. In addition to our performances, we have also presented educational workshops at both Rutgers University and Concept Lab, collaborating with composers on developing new compositions and writing for brass quintet. ​
 

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Samantha Lake began her musical career with the study of classical piano at the age of five and continued to take lessons for 13 years. Unafraid to be different, Ms. Lake chose tuba in sixth grade and never looked back.  Since then, she has been heard in venues as diverse as Carnegie Hall, the MetLife Stadium, and the streets of New Orleans. 
While performing tuba in multiple ensembles including the Pierre Monteux Music Festival Orchestra, Charter Oak Brass Band, and Seraph Brass, Ms. Lake has also earned recognition as a soloist. Her passion for solo performances was ignited when she won the Young Artist Solo Competition in New London, CT in 2012, resulting in a solo performance accompanied by the U.S. Coast Guard Band.  In the past few years, she has won the Rutgers Concerto Competition, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp Staff Solo Competition, University of Connecticut Concerto Competition, and placed second in the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra Instrumental Competition.
Also passionate about her work as an educator, she taught Brass Instrumental Techniques at Rutgers University and is on faculty at Rutgers Community Arts. Previously, she has served as a Morse Teaching Artist fellow and Music Advancement Program Fellow.  Holding leadership roles in university and high school ensembles, Ms. Lake has also conducted rehearsals and led by enthusiastic example.  Ms. Lake has taught group and masterclasses at Sichuan Conservatory of Music, Ohio University, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and various public schools. 
With a musical curiosity that extends beyond classical tuba, she has performed in a steel pan ensemble, percussion ensemble, chorus, and an early instrumental music ensemble.  Highlights include Mozart’s Requiem at age 10, traveling to New Orleans to learn about the musical heritage, and participating in TubaChristmas at Rockefeller Center.
Ms. Lake is from southeastern Connecticut and graduated with a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Connecticut.  She recently earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts from Rutgers University and her doctoral research led to an to a VTEC 2021 presentation on the exclusion of high voices in tuba multiphonic repertoire and the commission of two works for unaccompanied tuba. Her principal teachers are Alan Baer and Gary Sienkiewicz.