Since 1999 Brass has brought its particular brand of creative and innovative programming to Yale and the greater New Haven area. Originally born out of love of the wide variety of performance capabilities of brass instruments, the group has always been characterized by a playful levity which dances around the serious virtuosity of their performances.

From its inaugural concert on December 10, 1999, modestly titled "Brass: Five Guys in Concert," the ensemble has demonstrated a commitment to crafting performances that take audiences on a journey through the myriad tonal colors and moods possible on brass instruments. Each of Brass' nearly 50 concerts has explored this vast range in its own way. It has become part of their passion in programming to utilize these different colors to tell a story through the narrative of a single performance.

The heart of every Brass season is the Marble and Brass series. Now in its 13th year, this series is the result of a fruitful partnership with the Beinecke Library. So fundamental is this series to the identity of Brass that it considers the Beinecke its home performing space. The season turns around the two concerts of the Marble and Brass series each year, which are the focus of much of the ensemble's creative efforts.

The highest performance standards and a simple joy in music: these are the things that, for Brass, make serious music serious fun.

Olivia Malin, trumpets
Olivia Malin joined Brass in 2007, replacing long-time trumpeter Elizabeth Meeker. A graduate of the Yale School of Music with an MMA in trumpet performance, Olivia now works in music education in the New Haven area. She is an active freelancer in all genres from classical to salsa.

Photo by Marilyn Catasus

Drew Mazurek, trumpets
In the Spring of 1999, while still an undergraduate at Yale University, Drew Mazurek became a founding member of Brass. After 7 seasons, Drew left Brass in 2006 to go in search of himself. Having failed to find himself, he returned sheepishly to his origins in 2008. A native of North Haven and student of local trumpet legend Ken Tedeschi, Drew has performed extensively with groups within and without Yale, including the Connecticut Choral Society and Orchestra New England. Drew has performed on 3 continents.

Photo by Marilyn Catasus

Junius Johnson, horn
Junius Johnson co-founded Brass in 1999 with 4 undergraduates from Yale University. A native of Louisville, KY and an avid performer, he is experienced in horn performance in nearly every imaginable performance setting. At Yale, he has been a featured soloist twice with the Yale Bach Society, and has performed with every major ensemble on campus. In April 2007, he was featured as a soloist with the Saybrook College Orchestra. He appears on several CDs of local folk/rock band Mighty Purple, and on the soundtrack to the Hollywood feature film The Brothers Bloom. In addition to these activities, he has performed around the world on numerous international tours with diverse groups.

Photo by Marilyn Catasus

Jennifer Griggs, trombone
Jennifer Griggs is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Music. As a freelance trombonist and teacher in the New Haven area, she has performed with many orchestras and chamber ensembles. She joined Brass in 2010. She is on the faculty at Naugatuck Valley Community College, and remains active in the Yale Music in Schools Initiative. With the Yale Trombone Quartet, she recently traveled to Bogota, Colombia as guest artist and clinician at the "100 Anos, 100 Trombones" festival. Past honors include runner up in Eastern Trombone Workshop's National Solo Competition, soloist with TN Tech Symphony Band, and several awards and recognitions with her trombone quartet, Tromboteam!

Photo by Marilyn Catasus

Jason Arnold, tuba
Jason Arnold hails from Midland, TX, and joined Brass in 2009. He holds a Bachelor of Music from West Texas A&M University as well as a Master of Music from The Manhattan School of Music. He is currently teaching in several Catholic Schools in the New Haven Area. He can be heard on Joseph Alessi's Bonefide, Summit Records, as a member of the Imperial Brass Band. He maintains a private studio and remains active as a freelance musician. In November 2009 he was featured in an on camera role for ABC's "All My Children."

Photo by Marilyn Catasus