Mission Hill Brass invites friends to Arden stage

In 2005, A. Daniel Skepple and St. Albert’s Dr. Gordon Russell founded Mission Hill Brass Band with 12 players and a lot of hope.

Now six years down the road, the British style brass band has grown to 32 players. After navigating some rough waters, it has made musical leaps and is forming partnerships with reputable groups across the greater Edmonton area.

Closing the season this Saturday at the Arden Theatre, Mission Hill Brass and Friends pairs the band with the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton and the Salvation Army’s Edmonton Temple Songsters.

“This is our first solo concert in St. Albert in three years. We want to start to have one every year and get to the core of our support,” says Skepple, Mission Hill’s conductor.

One of the most popular mixed bands for St. Albert players, Mission Hill Brass includes Gordon Russell, Thomas Smythe, Chris Miller, Jeremy Moorehouse, Lou Allemano, David Otto, Graham Peppink and Heather Donlevy.

This is the second joint appearance with the 30-member Ukrainian Male Chorus. “We first performed with them at the Winspear last spring. The response was pretty overwhelming and we decided we’d get together a second time,” Skepple adds.

They will perform two numbers together including Salute to Tom Jones, and the emotionally stirring Battle Hymn of the Republic. “When a large band and a choir works together, the sound just sparkles.”

And since Mission Hill rehearses at the Salvation Army temple, it seemed a natural fit to invite the songsters in to belt out a quartet of spirituals including Under His Wing.

On its own, the brass band will feature an eclectic mix from Beatles Go Brass to Everything is Coming Up Roses. One of the highlights will be James Curnow’s very crisp traditional Blenheim Flourishes. “It’s a very challenging piece and I wanted to drive up the musicians’ playing ability.”

The two-hour concert is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the stylings of a British style brass band without driving into Edmonton.

“Some brass bands play traditional brass band music and don’t deviate from that. We have something for everyone.”