The students get to see the power of the music they ’ re playing . That ’ s why I wanted them to get out of the schools and music stores and into the community to play for people .
For more than five years , the Bridgeville Brass quintet has been enjoying the success of meeting the needs of students and the community through music .
In 2012 , Ryan Wolf founded the group so aspiring young musicians could improve their skills and the community would also benefit . “ The students get a great experience and the audience has a great experience ,” Wolf says . “ It ’ s all worth it , even though finding a need and then making it happen can be difficult .”
The inspiration for the Bridgeville Brass came from Wolf ’ s experience as a young trumpet player at South Fayette High School . He formed an independent jazz band with some friends , and they played at local venues . Wolf wanted to give students the chance to perform in public without depending on anyone else . “ You don ’ t get that a lot in schools ,” he notes .
The Bridgeville Brass performs at several events throughout the year , which will include the Bridgeville / South Fayette Relay For Life on May 20 at the South Fayette High School stadium . Other events have been Christmas concerts and performances at local retirement homes . Wolf says the elderly residents love hearing the students perform .
“ They ’ re like rock stars !” he explains . “ The students get to see the power of the music they ’ re playing . That ’ s why I wanted them to get out of the schools and music stores and into the community to play for people .”
Both Wolf and the students have learned a lot from their participation in the Bridgeville Brass . Wolf originally conducted every single song when he founded the quintet , but quit doing that after a friend suggested he stop .
“ It forces them to listen to each other ,” he notes . “ If they get into trouble , they have to dig themselves out of it . Stepping away makes them rely on each other .”
The result is a very close-knit quintet . Kristen Davis is a junior at South Fayette High School and joined the Bridgeville Brass two
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The students get to see the power of the music they ’ re playing . That ’ s why I wanted them to get out of the schools and music stores and into the community to play for people .
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years ago . She enjoys the final Christmas performance every year because the alumni members also participate .
“ It ’ s really nice to see everyone again ,” Kristen says . “ The greatest part of Bridgeville Brass to me is getting to play music with all the guys in the group .”
Nate Setar is a founding member of the Bridgeville Brass and plays flugelhorn . He joined in eighth grade and is now a senior at Canon-McMillan High School . Nate says the experience has been invaluable : “ I ’ ve learned a lot from Ryan and the other members I don ’ t think I would ’ ve learned had I not been in a brass quintet setting .” Playing in the Bridgeville Brass also stimulated his love for music . He would like to play in Penn State ’ s Blue Band when he attends the university , planning to study nursing .
Other members of the quintet include Matthew Pukansky , trumpet , Canon- McMillan High School ; Noah Kilgus , trumpet , South Fayette High School ; and Luke Pedersen , tuba , Chartiers Valley High School .
For more information on the Bridgeville Brass , visit wolftrumpetlessons . com / bridgevillebrass . php online . n
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