On Friday, August 26, 2022, the Axiom Brass returns to South Haven after performing in the series’ inaugural season (2016). The 7:30 performance will be held at the First United Methodist Church.
This award-winning Quintet has quickly established itself as one of the major art music groups in brass chamber music. It is the only Brass Quintet in 27 years to win the prestigious Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition (2012) and the only American ensemble to win the Preis der Europa-Stadt Passau in Germany (2012). Internationally recognized for their groundbreaking programming, their repertoire ranges from jazz and Latin music to string quartet transcriptions, as well as original compositions for brass quintet. Axiom Brass’ performances have captured the hearts and imaginations of their audiences, leading the ensemble to national radio and television appearances as well as concerts in Asia, Europe and across the U.S.
Composed of Dorival Puccini, Jr., trumpet, Christopher Scanlon, trumpet, Abby Black, horn, Corey Sansolo, trombone, and Kevin Harrison, tuba, this group has been praised for their “high level of musicality and technical ability” and for their “clean, clear and precise sound.” Each musician is an artist in his/her own right.
Puccini, a founding member of the Axiom Brass, has a Masters degree in Music Performance from the Juilliard School of Music and a Doctoral degree from Michigan State University. He is a member of the Santo Domingo Festival Orchestra and has performed with the Palm Beach Opera and is an active guest musician with the Grand Rapids Symphony. In 2014, Puccini made his China Debut as a soloist, performing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto with the Shenzhen Grand Theater Philharmonic. He is currently on faculty at Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois and at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.
A dynamic trumpet artist and educator, Christopher Scanlon is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Northern Illinois University. Dr. Scanlon received a Master of Music from Rice University, a Professional Studies Certificate from Manhattan School of Music, and a Doctorate of Music Arts from Stony Brook University. He has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Pops and in Broadway theaters for Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, An American in Paris and Kiss Me Kate. A dedicated educator, Dr. Scanlon has presented masterclasses across the United States and mentored students who have won the National Trumpet Competition.
Abby Black is a Chicago based horn teacher and freelancer. Black holds positions with the Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra as Third Horn, the Millar Brass Ensemble and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra as Debut Winds and Brass Coach. She has performed with ensembles such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. She received her Post-Master’s Certificate at DePaul University and her Master’s Degree at DePaul University studying with Oto Carrillo.
Chicago-based trombonist Corey Sansolo enjoys a diverse performing and teaching career. He is a member of the Axiom Brass and the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra and is the director and founder of the DC Trombone Workshop. He received his Bachelor’s of Music Degree and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music and his Master’s of Music degree at the University of Maryland. Recently, Sansolo has made frequent appearances with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and Chicago Philharmonic and has performed as guest principal trombone with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra and Northbrook Symphony.
Kevin Harrison joined the Axiom Brass in early 2008. He received a Bachelor of Music from Truman State University in 2004 and graduated with distinction from DePaul University in 2006 with a Master of Music degree. A highly sought after freelance musician, Kevin has established himself in Chicago and throughout the Midwest as a chamber musician, orchestral musician, educator, clinician, and music coach. He is currently Principal Tuba of the Northwest Indiana Symphony and has performed with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony and Kansas City Symphony,
“The Axiom Brass has a crystalline beauty of sound that is pure joy to hear.” —H. Bob Reynolds, World Renown Conductor.
“…beauty and fullness of tone, precise intonation, virtuosic technique, expressive dynamic range, and stylistic flexibility.” —Cliff Colnot, Conductor Civic Orchestra of Chicago / Award Winning Composer
The date of the final performance in our 2022 season, the holiday concert in December, will be announced at a later date.
Performances are provided thanks to the generous support of the South Haven Community Foundation, corporate sponsors and individual donors. A $10 admission is charged for the summer concerts
