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Brass Day
Saturday, January 23, 2027
Brass Day
Saturday, January 23, 2027
Brass Day
Saturday, January 23, 2027
Join us for Brass Day at the Don Wright Faculty of Music! A full day of events and activities for trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, and baritone/euphonium enthusiasts of all ages.
Brass Day will be an all-day event featuring Western brass faculty and our guest artist Jarrett McCourt, tuba. There will be concerts, classes, and playing opportunities for participants.
Date & Time
Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027
9am–5pm (TBC)
Participation
Open to brass enthusiasts of all ages and levels
Location
Music Building
Western University
1151 Richmond St.
London ON N6A 3K7
Directions
Cost
$TBD*
*Free for students currently enrolled at the Don Wright Faculty of Music (you have already paid through your Gift Fund levy). Advance registration still required.
Registration
Registration Coming Soon
HST number: 10816 2587 RT0001
2027 schedule is TBD
Please note:
- Participants should bring their instrument
- Participants can bring a piece of music for a potential mini-lesson
- Some workshops may encourage participation in a masterclass style
NOTE! Below is the 2026 schedule to give you an idea of what to expect. The 2027 schedule is pending.
Last year's schedule:
9–10am | Registrations
10–11am | Group Warm-up/reading session
11:30am - 12:30pm | Brass faculty masterclasses
12:30–2pm | Lunch
2–3:15pm | Will Leathers masterclass
3:30pm–4:30pm | Brass faculty reading sessions
5pm–6pm | Will Leathers concert* | von Kuster Hall | approx. 1h
*Finale concert is free and open to the public.
Guest Artist
We're proud to welcome Jarrett McCourt as this year's guest artist.
Jarrett McCourt
Named one of Canada's "Top 30 Hottest Classical Musicians" in 2022, tubist Jarrett McCourt has been praised for his "magnificent" playing by the Palm Beach Daily News and his "warm, romantic and seamless" sound by the South Florida Classical Review. His work as a performer, educator, and advocate blends virtuosity, emotional depth, and a commitment to building more sustainable artistic lives.
Jarrett serves as Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the UMKC Conservatory and is Principal Tuba of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. He previously held positions with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the New World Symphony, and has performed with ensembles including the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Detroit Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Utah Symphony, l'Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada.
A champion of new music, Jarrett became the first tubist in the 80-year history of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Standard Life Competition to win the top brass prize and was a finalist in the XVI Tchaikovsky Competition during the inaugural year for brass. His solo albums — Golden Hour (2022), Voyager (2024), and Onyx (2026) — reflect an evolving artistic voice rooted in lyricism, intensity, transformation, and emotional honesty.
Recent projects include commissions and collaborations with Nicole Lizée, Kevin Day, Gala Flagello, and Vincent Ho, as well as international appearances in South Africa, Thailand, Colombia, Canada, and across the United States. In 2026, Jarrett hosted the Midwest Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference at UMKC, helping bring one of the region's major low-brass gatherings back to Kansas City.
Beyond performance, Jarrett is deeply engaged in musician wellness and curriculum development. At UMKC, he has helped pioneer holistic wellness programming for artists, integrating mental health, physical sustainability, performance psychology, and career preparation into conservatory training.
Sponsors
