Brass Band of the Western Reserve brings Hometown Holidays concert to Medina

A 13-year tradition will continue at the Medina Performing Arts Center on Dec. 13, as the Brass Band of the Western Reserve will present its annual Hometown Holidays concert.

The band’s vice president, Maryann Veyon, explained the band’s history goes back to its inception 28 years ago.

“Founded in 1997 as the Cuyahoga Valley Brass Band, the group had their first concert in April 1998,” she recalled. “The group changed its name to Brass Band of the Western Reserve in 2003. The band commissioned pieces from Philip Sparke and Stephen Bulla for its 15th, 20th and 25th anniversary.”

The annual concert will consist of a combination of classic Christmas songs and wind band holiday pieces. The band will also be joined by two additional ensembles for some of their performances.

“There will be joint performances with Summit Bells and the Medina High School choirs, as well as some individual performances by both groups,” Veyon said. “It’s a great experience for all the groups and lets our audience experience something special for the holidays.”

Medina High School has five official choirs — Concert Choir, Women’s Chorus, Men’s Chorale, Women’s Chorale and Men’s Chorus — as well as some unofficial student ensembles.

The Summit Bells is a handbell ensemble based in Cuyahoga Falls that was founded in the 1990s by director Charles Kobb. Every year, the group performs throughout the Northeast Ohio area between the months of September and June. The ensemble has toured around the world on multiple occasions as well.

The Brass Band of the Western Reserve currently consists of 37 total members — 32 brass players, four percussionists and one conductor.

Veyon said she hopes the Hometown Holidays concert serves as a way to bring people into the holiday spirit as well as introduce the audience to this unique style of music.

“We believe brass band music is a truly special art form, one that deserves far more recognition than it often gets,” she said. “For this genre to thrive, it takes all of us sharing our passion and introducing it to people who may not have experienced it yet. If you’ve never heard a brass band live, we genuinely hope you’ll come out and give it a try. The energy, the power, the artistry — there’s nothing quite like it.”

The Hometown Holidays concert will take place at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 on the main stage of the Medina Performing Arts Center, located at 851 Weymouth Road. Tickets range from $12 to $15 and can be purchased at the door the day of the show or in advance online at bbwesternreserve.com.