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WHEREAS, the mission of the River City Brass Band is to propagate and perpetuate musical culture, primarily American musical culture, across a broad spectrum of the public through the presentation of brass band performances, educational programs and the production of recordings ; and,
WHEREAS, the inaugural performance of the River City Brass Band took place on November 21, 1981, in Pittsburgh, PA, marking a musical renaissance and an evening of musical excellence which ultimately resulted in today's 28 piece ensemble which performs a 49 concert series in seven venues in Western Pennsylvania and an extensive American touring schedule as part of community concert series, major symphony pops series and arts festivals; and,
WHEREAS, Denis Colwell is the Conductor and Music Director of the River City Brass Band since 1994, having joined the ensemble in 1982 as a cornetist and subsequently was promoted to assistant principal solo cornet. In 1991, founder Robert Bernat named Denis Colwell Associate Conductor after which he assumed all conducting duties in May of 1994; and,
WHEREAS, Denis Colwell, a Pittsburgh native, studied trumpet performance under Carnegie Mellon's renowned trumpet professor, Anthony Pasquarelli and went on to become an Assistant Head of the Department of Music from 1988 to 1995 and then Associate Professor of Music at CMU where he is Music Director of the Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble; and,
WHEREAS, Denis Colwell has led the River City Brass Band with an uncanny vision and remarkable energy , having identified opportunities not easily seen by others, performing his duties with poise and commitment and sometimes sacrifice and bringing a level of professionalism and advocacy to the position to make the River City Brass Band a success; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the River City Brass Band for its extraordinary contribution to the arts in Pittsburgh and...
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