Ever since its beginnings in 2002, Buzz Brass has given itself the mission of promoting chamber music for brass quintet by means of original, accessible and entertaining creations capable of reaching a wide audience.

The ensemble thus strives to raise the awareness of two very distinct publics—young audiences and adults—in regard to classical music and more particularly to brass instruments.

For the young-audience segment, 4 productions have been created

Timeless musical works revisited, with guests on piano, harp, organ and percussion

Classics that conjure up all the magic of the Holiday Season

Outstanding original transcriptions of famous compositions from the turn of the 20th century

Accessible works including Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, with guests on piano and harp

Gustav Holst’s famous symphonic work, with guest on organ

Original compositions and traditional airs, with guests: choir, harp and percussion, conducted by Julian Wachner

A tribute to Quebec’s folk and French songs.

Both of these segments have allowed the quintet to give a full count of 1,777 presentations between December 1st, 2002 and December 1st, 2022. In 20 years, the ensemble has thus reached out to over 400,000 music lovers in North America, Europe and China. Furthermore, the numerous awards and distinctions that Buzz Brass has won over the years attest to the quality and relevance of its performances. In addition, the group now features among the most reputable brass quintets in Canada. Moreover, its appearances abroad (Edinburgh in 2015; China since 2016; New York in 2018) enable these Canadian musicians to shine forth at the four corners of the earth.

In parallel, Buzz Brass has developed a 3rd segment, symphonic, by adapting a few of its young-audience shows. Various programs have been presented with established orchestras such as those of Winnipeg, Quebec City, Sherbrooke and Gatineau as well as of Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, in both our official languages.