Now accepting two student brass quintets

The Mountain Light Music Festival will feature two collegiate student brass quintets for the summer of 2018. These quintets will be selected via recorded submission to participate in a week-long festival in Pagosa Springs Colorado. Participants will work with the Baylor Brass in master classes, warm up sessions, private study and clinics. 

Each quintet will present a short recital and perform in the full brass choir with the Baylor Brass. Members of the Baylor Brass will conduct, rehearse and coach the full choir. The Brass Choir repertoire will consist of challenging works with instrumentation for 15 to 18 brass players and will be featured on the finale concert Friday evening, August 10th, 2018.

This will be a rewarding and memorable week with home cooked meals, nights around the fire pit, discussions on teaching, pedagogy and career choices. We will begin each morning with a full breakfast followed by a warm up session and chamber rehearsals. Following lunch, we will hold an informal break out session on topics ranging from auditions, resume building, repertoire, practice technique and pedagogy. Full brass choir rehearsals will take place in the afternoon followed by an afternoon activity (day hike, disc golf, bike ride, hot springs, horse shoes). 

​Accommodations at the Mountain Light Lodge are first class and the retreat is ideal for exploring, practicing, studying and personal reflection.

Pagosa Springs is in southwest Colorado is a 10 hour drive from Dallas. We are able to shuttle participants to and from the Durango Airport. 

To audition: please visit the link above to upload group bios, personal bios and a recording of your quintet.

This is the third year of the festival and we look forward to hosting talented musicians during this spectacular week in the mountains.

I have begun research and writing on areas of mentoring and spiritual transcendence in an applied studio. The most compelling platform in my teaching studio is that of "legacy." In addition to traditional pedagogical methods, I have spent considerable time addressing areas of spiritual fitness and mental preparation as it relates to performance and teaching and helping students deal with stress, fatigue and depression. I am fascinated by teaching modes that delve more deeply into areas of spiritual conditioning and personal identity/self worth. Why do we pursue music? What is the motivation behind our craft that drives us? How do we build tenacity and resilience in young musicians and how is this cultivated in an applied studio? How do we as applied studio teachers play a unique mentoring role in the lives of our students and how can we further shape and strengthen their resilience in this current climate?
 
Thank you for visiting and I hope you will consider this incredible opportunity.
Brent Phillips