The SMSU Music Program will host Brass-a-palooza, a day-long workshop for brass players, on Saturday in the Fine Arts building at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.

The day of all things brass will feature guest trumpet player Mark Nelson from the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. The schedule will include brass choir rehearsals, a guest recital, a guest masterclass, and a finale concert.

Schedule for the day:

8:30-9 a.m.: Registration/vheck-in at the Fine Arts lobby

9-9:30 a.m.: Warm-ups

9:30-10:45 a.m.: Brass choir rehearsal

11a.m.-noon: Guest artist recital

noon-12:45 p.m.: Lunch (provided)

12:45-2:15 p.m.: Masterclass

2:15-4:30 p.m.: Brass Choir rehearsal

5 p.m.: Finale concert in FA 116.

The event is open to any and all brass players regardless of age or ability level. It is also open to directors and other musicians interested in brass performance.

Registrations are open now. Participation fees will be paid at check-in on the day of the event. Registration is $10 per person and includes lunch. Band directors bringing four students or more can receive a discounted rate. Contact SMSU Director of Bands, Dr. John Ginocchio at John.Ginocchio@SMSU.edu

The guest artist, Mark Nelson, is a native of East Grand Forks. He began taking trumpet lessons from Herb Thompson while in the fourth grade. As a high school senior, he began studying with University of North Dakota professor Einar Einarson and continued studying with him for the next seven years. As a student at UND, Nelson was featured as trumpet soloist with the Wind Ensemble on their 2001 Tour of England, Ireland, and Scotland. After graduating from UND, Nelson spent four years as principal trumpet with the Greater Grand Forks Symphony. He then went on to DePaul University in Chicago to pursue his master’s degree in trumpet performance. While there, he had the great opportunity to study with John Hagstrom of the renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass section. Nelson has also performed with the Bemidji Symphony, the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. In 2013, he was appointed as principal trumpet of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra.

To register, visit: https://www.smsu.edu/academics/programs/music/brassapalooza.html.