Bay Street Brassworks is one of America's finest and busiest brass ensembles. Founded in 1995, this versatile brass quintet performs a wide variety of musical genres ranging from classical music to Dixieland jazz; show tunes, classic rock, movie music, and anything in between. This professional brass quintet is based in Baltimore, Maryland and Indianapolis, Indiana. The ensemble is also part of the touring rosters of River City Artists Management and Producers, Inc., Tampa, Florida, and formerly on the touring roster with "Live on Stage" LLC, Nashville, Tennessee, bringing the music of Bay Street Brassworks to audiences throughout the United States and abroad.
Bay Street Brassworks range of musical abilities has produced engagements ranging from opening ceremonies at Baltimore Orioles baseball games to world premier performances and clinics alongside the American Brass Quintet, Harvey Phillips, Gunther Schuller and Eric Ewazen at the 2004 Brass Chamber Music Forum in Boone, North Carolina, honoring the 50th anniversary of the New York Brass Quintet.
In 2004, renowned percussionist Amin Gumbs joined the ensemble bringing a texture to the group that has audiences taking notice and wanting more.
Artistic collaborations with other world-class artists have resulted in performances with members of the Annapolis and New York Brass Quintets, the Baltimore Symphony brass section, principal trumpet of the National Symphony Orchestra Steven Hendrickson and conductor Harlan Parker. Musical explorations have ranged from Eric Ewazen's Shadowcatcher and Fisher Tull's Concerto Grosso to Daniel Pinkham's Christmas Cantata.
Bay Street Brassworks has performed at most of the major Universities from coast to coast and is the premiere educational brass ensemble of its kind, having cooperative relationships with a number of Young Audiences state organizations, providing both educational and concert opportunities. The musicians derive great satisfaction from their youth activities and spend considerable amounts of their time encouraging and mentoring young brass players across the country. Currently, Bay Street Brassworks are performing artists for Young Audiences of Maryland, United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, North Carolina, The Johnston County Arts Council, North Carolina, The Arts Council of Fayetteville / Cumberland County, North Carolina, and the South Carolina Arts Commission. The ensemble has performed hundreds of educational programs, demonstration concerts, master classes, as well as, individual instructional clinics.
In addition to its extensive concert activities, Bay Street Brassworks released their first CD in 2002, entitled "Fresh Off The Boat - Folk Music From Around The World", and their second CD "American Escapades" in 2006. These recordings have expanded the reach of the ensemble into homes and schools from Florida to Colorado and from Maryland to Korea.
Among its numerous awards, the Bay Street Brassworks received the first prize at the New York Brass Conference International Brass Quintet Competition in 2003, and two Career Development grants from the Peabody Conservatory.
Joan Reinthaler of the Washington Post has described performances of Bay Street Brassworks as being both "friendly and energetic."
Craig Garner music arranger with Dorm 40 Music stated "Have Drummer - Will Travel! Based out of Baltimore, but with members from throughout the country, Bay Street Brassworks is truly exceptional."