A History of the CCM Brass Choir

The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM) Brass Choir, founded by Ernest N. Glover, has played an important role in the development of brass musicians at CCM since its inception in 1946. Many former members have gone on to successful careers in the world’s leading orchestras, chamber ensembles and teaching institutions. The group has consistently been widely celebrated for its virtuosity and professional product. In addition, the three music directors of the CCM Brass Choir have been an important part of the fabric of international brass performance and education for decades. Ernest Glover served as conductor for 21 years and was a trombonist in both the American Rolling Mill Corporation (Armco) Band and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for many years. He began his career at CCM in 1933 and remained there until his death in 1968. A prot¿¿g¿¿ of Mr. Glover, Betty Semple Glover, took over in 1969 and led the ensemble for 23 years, in addition to being bass trombonist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for 33 seasons. By the time of her retirement in 1992, she had attained the rank of full professor at CCM. Timothy Northcut, tubist of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and professor of tuba and euphonium at CCM, took over leadership duties in 1994 and remains director to this day. The choir has been featured at nearly every important educational conference in the United States, including the General Assembly of the Music Educators National Conference, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois and national conventions of the Music Teachers National Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, American Choral Directors Association, National Association of Music Therapy and the College Band Directors National Association. In addition, the group has been featured many times at the Ohio Music Educators Association annual conference and has performed and recorded with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. From 1949-1957, the CCM Brass Choir hosted the Thor Johnson Brass Ensemble Compositions Contest, an event which inspired international participation. The competition was hosted by CCM and then Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Music Director Thor Johnson, an innovator in the field of music education. Over the span of eight years, there were twenty-three prizewinning entries, which represent an interesting cross-section of young composers for brass instruments, many of whom went on to successful careers in the field of music. The information regarding Ernest Glover was largely taken from his own writings and information gathered from former students. Both Betty Glover and Timothy Northcut have been comprehensively interviewed on multiple occasions for this project. Each prizewinning composition in the Thor Johnson Brass Ensemble Compositions Contest has been carefully analyzed and each composer researched thoroughly. In addition, many former members of the group were eager to share their experiences working with the choir. These include musicians who went on to excel in careers in both performance and education. The theme of the interviews was universal: the importance of the CCM Brass Choir to brass students at the conservatory and to the CCM community at large.

Name thesis:degree_name

DMA

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

College-Conservatory of Music: Trombone

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Cincinnati

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Siler, Nathan John

Contributors dc:contributor

• Northcut, Timothy

• Music
• A
• History
• of
• CCM
• Brass
• Choir

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1354550757

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:ucin1354550757