The Canadian Brass

Emerging onto the scene in 1970, Canadian Brass succeeded in positioning brass instruments and their repertoire as a dynamic presence within classical performance. This five-piece ensemble, whose longtime lineup comprised trumpeters Frederic Mills and Ronald Romm, French horn player David Ohanian, trombonist Eugene Watts, and tuba player Charles Daellenbach, earned recognition for a virtuosic, formally trained approach that restored vitality to an overlooked instrumental group long restricted by scant repertoire. Interpreting works ranging from Mozart and Bach to Gershwin and jazz, the group opened doors to wider acceptance of brass ensembles. They became the first Western chamber ensemble to tour the People’s Republic of China and headlined such halls as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, the Ambassador Auditorium in Los Angeles, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; alongside their concert schedule the quintet released numerous recordings.