The Rowdy Brass Band is an elite CMU “ambassador” ensemble designed to train a 21st Century musician and meet the demand for high quality entertainment both on and off campus. This 12-15 member ensemble performs custom arrangements in pop, rock, jazz, latin, ceremonial, fanfare, street, and other styles of music. The band performs all music by memory and is highly mobile - to set-up quickly and perform anywhere! The Rowdy Brass Band consists of CMU’s best (auditioned) brass, saxophone, electronic, and percussion student musicians who get real-world professional experience, including a large annual scholarship. They rehearse weekly (MWF, 2:00-2:50pm) during the fall & spring semesters, preparing for performances from August through May. Dr. Hinkle leads, arranges music for, and also performs with the Rowdy Brass Band.
Other details include:
- $1600-$2000 scholarship for each member - RBB (athletic band) scholarships can be combined with music major/minor (applied studio) scholarships, and the amount is dependent on membership experience/level and instrument needs. RBB scholarships replace other athletic band awards if applicable, and increase with subsequent years of participation and positive membership.
- Elite, one-on-a-part chamber ensemble modeled after groups like Disney’s “All-American Band"
- Members must fully commit and are treated as professional musicians, including the possibility of scholarships being reduced, or being 'cut' and/or replaced when not in attendance at all required events or meeting performance responsibilities. As such, students who choose to maintain an extensive or non-flexible part-time job schedule may not be able to participate in the Rowdy Brass Band.
- Rowdy Brass Band members are required to participate in Maverick Stampede, CMU's marching band, during the fall term of their RBB membership. If the fall marching band music is not arranged for non-traditional marching band instruments (guitar, electric bass, synth/piano, or others as director designates), a semester-long recruitment project will be required in lieu of this required marching band participation and/or their RBB scholarship may be reduced.
- Instrumentation: Saxophones (alto, tenor, bari), Trumpets, Mellophones, Low Brass (trombone, baritone, sousaphone), Keyboard, Percussion. Alternates for each instrument may also be chosen. Exact instrumentation, including potential inclusion of electronic instruments (guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, etc.), are dependent on audition and personnel (new CMU students and non-music majors are encouraged to apply).
- A college credit course (MUSP 145B/245B/345B/445B; "chamber ensemble," students must register in the fall and spring terms, 1 credit each term)
- Rehearses weekly in fall & spring (Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays, 2:00-2:50pm in MPAC 005/006)
- Performance venues: campus events, downtown businesses, special requests, recruitment visits/tours, sporting events, special paid travel, etc.
The Mesa Brass Band was formed in in Fall 2024, due to the continued success of the Rowdy Brass Band and an unprecedented number of high-quality auditions. Like the RBB, the MBB will also rehearse MWF, 2-2:50pm both in fall and spring terms. Some fall rehearsals may be combined with the RBB, with performances set to take place both in fall and spring terms together and separately. Like Rowdy Brass Band members, Mesa Brass Band members are required to also participate in the Maverick Stampede (marching band, mid-August - early November). MBB members will receive RBB-like performance training and experience, and will also be eligible to fill RBB positions first as they become available. Dr. Hinkle may move members to and from these ensembles as necessary and/or associated with ensemble responsibilities and student performance. MBB members must register for MUSP 145B/245B/345B/445B; "chamber ensemble," students must register in the fall and spring terms, 1 credit each term). MBB members are also eligible for larger athletic band scholarships, these will be based on audition videos submitted to Dr. Hinkle, will be individually awarded based on need in this ensemble and performance experience/level, and will be in conjunction with responsibilities associated with concurrent Maverick Stampede involvement.
Contact Dr. Hinkle Performance Request
Rowdy Brass Band - 2024-2025 Edition
- Alto Sax - Quinn Regan (Central HS)
- Alto Sax - Zachary DuBose (Grand Junction HS)
- Tenor Sax - Ryan Williams (Florence HS)
- Bari Sax - Tommy Masciullop (Pine Creek HS)
- Trumpet - Tray Koch (Evergreen HS)
- Trumpet - Alex Pawlowski (Erie HS)
- Trumpet - Nicholas MacLennan (Cheyenne Mountain HS)
- Trombone - Justin Balderson (Roosevelt HS)
- Trombone - Max Warren (Palisade HS)
- Bass Trombone - Jacob Brown (Chatfield HS)
- Sousaphone - Martin Faut (Mountain Vista HS)
- Keyboard - Brendan Krueger (Legacy HS)
- Percussion - Ian Prieto (Central HS)
- Percussion - Kinsman Tiernan (Broomfield HS)
- Audio/Media Manager - open, please inquire with Dr. Hinkle
Mesa Brass Band - 2024-2025 Edition
- Alto Sax - Garrett O'Connor (Fruita Monument HS)
- Tenor Sax - Lucy O'Byrne (Glennwood Springs HS)
- Bari Sax - Jaden Stohr (Chatfield HS)
- Trumpet - Albert Booth (Grand Junction HS)
- Trumpet - Grace Goodland (Monta Vista HS)
- Trumpet - reviewing audition videos through July 1, instructions below
- Mellophone - Ainsley Kish (Grandview HS)
- Trombone - Jacob Mason (Palisade HS)
- Trombone - Joseph Linton (Montezuma-Cortez HS)
- Bass Trombone - reviewing audition videos through July 1, instructions below
- Sousaphone - Dom Olmos (Oxnard HS, CA)
- Lead Guitar - reviewing audition videos through July 1, instructions below
- Bass Guitar - reviewing audition videos through July 1, instructions below
- Keyboard - reviewing audition videos through July 1, instructions below
- Percussion - reviewing audition videos through July 1, instructions below
- Percussion - reviewing audition videos through July 1, instructions below
RBB & MBB auditions take place via YouTube link submissions that are due to Dr. Hinkle on or before April 1 (shortly after Spring Break) each spring. All potential members must audition or re-audition each Spring. Current members are not guaranteed a future spot, and must play assigned parts of audition music (below) by memory. Playing by memory is encouraged for potential future members, but not required. Auditionees should choose a part that best fits their ability level and desired part placement. High level video production and quality in not necessary, however, any demonstration of music performed by memory (if applicable) must be obvious to viewer (ie. use a wide camera angle). Instrumentation in the RBB or MBB is not set from past ensembles, but rather dependent on the high musical standards and commitment of auditionees each year. Do you want to consider being in the RBB or MBB, but play a different instrument than what you've seen in this group in the past? Communicate with Dr. Hinkle ASAP.
Sample Audition Videos - Matthew Bohling (mellophone) & Trystan Berg (percussion)
Audition Video Sections (Introduction and Music Performance):
- Introduction - Start your video by introducing yourself; your name, where you are from, the high school you attend(ed), your desired instrument placement in RBB or MBB, and what degree you will be working towards at CMU. Then, tell us something about yourself - a unique skill, why you want to be in the RBB, or something fun. Speak loud, clearly, and with energy...as an RBB or MBB performer would on stage!
- Music Performance -
- Winds/Keyboard/Guitar/Bass - If you don't' see a part for your instrument (i.e. no guitar, keyboard or e-bass for Hot Time, no Mellophone or guitar for Grape Lemonade), then create a part that fits your instrument, performance ability, and appropriate range, while still maintains the written key. In other words, transpose or adjust to fit your instrument as needed.
- "Hot Time" - Perform 1st 15 measures only with audible metronome ate 160 BPM (half note), fast and light marching tempo with sharp articulations.
- "Grape Lemonade" - Of the part you choose to play, perform all measures where you play with an audible metronome at 112 BPM.
- Something else - You choose! Ex: 1) Improvisation to a recorded background or 'jam' track, or 2) your favorite transcription of a solo by a professional artist, or 3) something you can do on your instrument that you think 'stands-out' or set you apart from other auditionees (i.e range or extended technique).
- Drummers - Using a simple drum set, demonstrate the following beats/rhythms, while also trading phrases (2 or 4 bars) of "time" and "soloing" with yourself in each of the below styles. Playing with a loud metronome in background is highly preferred.
- 2 Beat "New Orleans Groove,” AKA a "2nd line" groove (think “Atchafalaya” (starting at ~9:47) or "When the Saints”)
- Medium rock
- 12/8 Rock/Funk
- 2 Beat Fast March to the "Hot Time” form
- Medium Latin (Bossa or Samba)
- A groove of your choice - what groove you are best at (can be similar or different to above)?
- Winds/Keyboard/Guitar/Bass - If you don't' see a part for your instrument (i.e. no guitar, keyboard or e-bass for Hot Time, no Mellophone or guitar for Grape Lemonade), then create a part that fits your instrument, performance ability, and appropriate range, while still maintains the written key. In other words, transpose or adjust to fit your instrument as needed.
Submit your Video (1 video only, ok to splice together sections if desired or send as one continuous video) to Dr. Hinkle ([email protected]) via a YouTube link (make sure it's working first) on or before April 1. If you have questions, communicate with a current RBB or MBB member (preferred, see above) or directly with Dr. Hinkle if needed.