Friends of Classical Music - Backyard Brass Brass Quintet

Backyard Brass - Brass Quintet

Richard Clymer, Trumpet

Kenneth Tedeschi, Trumpets

Peter Reit, French Horn

Scott Cranston, Trombone

Marcus Rojas, Tuba

The second event of this season's Friends of Classical Music series brings 5 of the top brass players in the country. 

The program includes a work by the American composer, Alyssa Reit, who will be in attendance.

The Program

Fanfare from La Peri           Paul Dukas
Fantasia                            Giovanni Coperario
Fantasia a 5                       Giovanni Coperario
Little Fugue in G Minor        Johann Sebastian Bach
Contrapunctus 9                 Johann Sebastian Bach
Four Songs                        Claude Debussy
Symphony 1 for Brass         Victor Ewald
Four Songs                        Charles Ives 

Short Intermission 

American Songs                 Alyssa Reit
Magnetic Rag                     Scott Joplin
Ain’t Misbehavin’                Fats Waller
Tin Roof Blues                    New Orleans Rhythm Kings

The Performers: 

Marcus Rojas, native of New York City is considered one of "the best all around tuba players in the world" (Harvey Pekar, Jazziz); among the diverse groups in which he has played are the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, American Symphony, American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, The New York Pops, EOS, Radio City Music Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis, and ensembles led by Gil Evans, George Russell, Jim Hall, Lionel Hampton, Dave Douglas, Wayne Shorter, David Byrne and P.D.Q. Bach.

Marcus has played on over 500 recordings, from CDs of his own groups Spanish Fly and Les Miserables Brass Band to Reggae stars Sly and Robbie and the Metropolitan Opera.

He has performed and/or recorded with Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Paul Simon, Yo Yo Ma, Stevie Wonder, Dawn Upshaw, Queen Latifah, Edie Brickell, Dr. John, Harry Connick Jr. Luciano Pavarotti, Aretha Franklin, They Might be Giants, John Lithgow, Andrea Bocelli, Bette Midler and Sting among others.

He has recorded for every major film, television and record company in the United States as well as countless commercial jingles and over 70 film scores including: Interview with the Vampire, Mission to Mars, Ed Wood, You've Got Mail, Fargo,Snake Eyes, and Sleepless in Seattle.  

Kenneth Tedeschi has been Assistant Principal Trumpet of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra for twenty-seven years. An active free-lance musician, Mr. Tedeschi regularly performs at Hartford’s Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra and Saint Aloyicius Church, New Canaan. In June 2021, Mr. Tedeschi retired after thirty-seven years of teaching at North Haven High School, where he directed the award-winning wind ensemble, concert band, jazz ensemble and chamber orchestra. He teaches at New York University, the State University of New York at Purchase, Brooklyn College, and the Manhattan School of Music.

Peter Reit was an original member of the pit orchestra for Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, retiring after 32 years. He also retired from his principal horn duties at the Westchester Philharmonic and Scandia Symphony orchestras where he played over 30 years. He continues to be the principal hornist at the Greenwich Symphony. Peter has performed with many ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, the American Ballet Theater, and the New York City Opera and Ballet Orchestras. He has also toured worldwide with the American Symphony and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestras. He performs in a duo with his wife, harpist Alyssa Reit, and plays regularly with the Greenwich Chamber Players. Peter is featured on recordings of all musical genres, and has been heard on television, radio, and movie soundtracks. His jazz experience includes performing as a member of the Mel Lewis Big Band at the Village Vanguard, plus recordings and worldwide tours with the Bob Belden Ensemble. He is on the horn faculty at SUNY Purchase College and Vassar College.

Scott Cranston performs as Principal Trombone of the New Haven and Bridgeport Symphony Orchestras as well as Orchestra New England. He has also performed with the New York City Ballet Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Hartford Symphony, and Springfield Symphony. His Broadway credits include The Lion King and Cats as well as performances with National Tours at the Bushnell Theatre in Hartford, CT, and the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, CT. He just completed the critically acclaimed pre-Broadway run of John Leguizamo's "Kiss My Aztec" at the Hartford Stage Company. Scott has been a member of the Quiet City and Arlberg Brass Quintets for over 25 years. He has enjoyed performances with Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Dave Brubeck, Natalie Cole, and The Temptations. He lives in Trumbull, CT with his wife Tracey and they have three beautiful adult children Kelly, Ryan, and Dylan.

Richard Clymer has been a freelance musician in the New York metropolitan area for the past 18 years. He plays regularly with such diverse groups as the New York Chamber Symphony, American Ballet Theater, Little Orchestra Society, New Band Microtonal Ensemble, New York City Opera National Company, New York Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, and numerous Broadway shows. He is currently principal trumpet with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, Eric Hawkins Dance, and the SEM Ensemble

This performance will take place at the Sedgewood Boathouse in Western Kent. 

Address: Sedgewood Boathouse, located off of Route 301 at 1026 Barrett Circle West, Kent NY 10512.

Please consider joining the Friends of Classical Music to support this program, especially as we honor Midhat Serbagi, our founder, who passed away this year. The third concert in the series, on August 21st, will be performed in his honor.