about us
Hogtown Brass is a dynamic Canadian ensemble comprised of accomplished musicians from a variety of diverse artistic backgrounds. Known for their unique arrangements and new compositions, collaborations with vocalists and instrumentalists, along with an affinity for both standard and non-traditional performance spaces, Hogtown Brass is on a mission to reinvigorate the entire concert experience for their audiences.
Hogtown Brass is committed to presenting unique concert experiences, as well as entertaining and informative educational programs including workshops, masterclasses, and residencies. Recent performances include: TD Toronto Jazz Festival, Guelph Connections Concert Series, Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto Chamber Players, CityTV Carol Sing, and a tour through Atlantic Canada with performances in Dartmouth, Lunenburg, Atlantic Festivals of Music, as well as a residency with the Sistema New Brunswick music education program.
Hogtown Brass has released two albums – A Holiday Album, Vol 1 (2017) and Introducing...(2016), both featuring new Canadian compositions and arrangements. Introducing...was nominated for a 2017 Toronto Independent Music Award.
Strong advocates for the creation of new repertoire – Hogtown Brass has commissioned and recorded new pieces by composers Kevin Lau, Cait Nishimura, and Samuel Bisson, with their creation made possible by the Ontario Arts Council, FACTOR, the Toronto Arts Council and the Canadian Music Centre.
Trumpet / Tristan Tye
Trumpet / Michael Barth
Horn / Jay Austin
Trombone / Brayden Friesen
Tuba / Ian Feenstra
Upcoming Dates
Education
We present engaging recitals at school assemblies, in band rooms, camps, and other venues. These programs are designed to include aspects of the local music curriculum including the building blocks of music, music history, and Canadian-focused repertoire. At the K-8 level, we focus more on basics like rhythm, melody, dynamics, and pitch. We also briefly touch on the physics of sound and how it relates to instrument families and music. At the high school level we present programmes focusing on history, styles, and genres. Students are encouraged to engage and interact through exercises such as clapping patterns and actively identifying melodic material.
Our main education show “NO FUN ALLOWED!” is designed to break down preconceived notions of how we should attend and participate in musical performances, particularly within the culture of stuffy Classical concerts. We encourage students to applaud when they feel like it, to clap along with jazz and Latin tunes, and to be engaged, rather than passive listeners.
This show is designed to be applicable for all ages and levels of education, from K-12 and beyond. We also tailor our show for each performance depending on the needs of the teachers and which aspects of the curriculum they would like us to emphasize.
Current Shows
Old, New, Borrowed, Blue
This programme explores the vast variety of repertoire available to us as a brass quintet. We take the audience on a musical journey from Baroque masterpieces all the way to brand new Canadian works commissioned by the Hogtown Brass, with stops along the way including fun arrangements of Broadway showstoppers and jazz favourites.
60 and 90 minute programmes available.
Pictures at an Exhibition
This show features a fascinating setting of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece Pictures at an Exhibition, arranged for brass quintet and organ by Canada’s own J. Scott Irvine. This show can be performed either with a local organist from your community or with our own. The remainder of the show features scenery-inspired selections from our main programme including familiar favourites and Hogtown Brass commissions.
60 and 90 minute programmes available.
A Hogtown Holiday
This show embraces the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, with everyone’s favourite hits ranging from new takes on traditional carols to music made popular in our favourite holiday movies and TV Specials.
60 and 90 minute programmes available.
CONTACT US
To Book the Hogtown Brass, please contact:
Jason Austin
Artistic Director/French horn
hogtownbrass@gmail.com