December Meeting

The New England Brass Band

We welcome back the New England Brass Band

New England Brass Band —  NEBB was founded in 1988 and then incorporated in 1998. The NEBB is a 30 piece brass and percussion ensemble, which presents concerts in the British tradition. Based in the Boston area, NEBB rehearses weekly in Wilmington, Massachusetts and draws players from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine.

Patterned after the best of the British brass bands which were formed in the mid 19^th century as as fine Salvation Army bands which appropriated the brass format early in their history, the NEBB has established itself as one of the premier brass groups in New england.

The repertory of the NEBB includes transcriptions of classic works of Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Wagner, Bach and John Phillip So usa and contemporary sounds by John Williams. However, the heart of the band's repertory is made of outstanding music written especially for brass band including substantial works by Eric Ball, Dean Goffin, Eric Liedzen, Kevin Norbury, James Curnow and Stephen Bulla. The band performs selections written and arranged especially for the NEBB from a growing number of composers and arrangers.

Music Director - Stephen Bulla

Mr. Bulla received his degree in arranging and composition from Boston's Berklee College of Music, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He has entered his third decade as Chief Arranger to the President's own U.S. Marine Band and the White House Orchestra and is responsible for the production of music that encompasses countless styles and instrumental combinations, most of which are performed for Presidential functions and visiting dignitaries in Washington, D.C.

Assistant Music Director - Al Strickland

Mr. Strickland has been a member of the New England Brass Band since 1999. His musical career began early when he was introduced to a tenor trombone at the age of 11. He went on to play with a variety of Salvation Army bands in Canada. He moved to the USA to join the Salvation Army's New York Staff Band, becoming principle trombone and soloist. He lives in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, where he is the Band Director of the local Salvation Army Band.