Western Brass Quintet

**Western Brass Quintet** has been blowing minds with polished brass performances since forming as a faculty ensemble at Western Michigan University in 1967. This crew of virtuosic educators and performers — trumpet players Scott Thornburg and Lin Foulk, hornist Bruce Bonnell, trombonist Steve Wolfinbarger, and tuba specialist Deanna Swoboda — balances classical precision with modern flair. Known for commissioning new works (like David Gillingham’s *Rise* from their 2023 album *Colson: Rise*), they’ve become ambassadors for brass chamber music, blending Old English folk influences (*Old English Songs and Dances*) with fresh compositions (*Games for Brass*). Their recent releases, including the introspective *For Then and Now* and collaborative *Better Angels*, showcase their knack for storytelling through brass timbres. When not recording, they’re likely mentoring students or cracking jokes during their lively outreach concerts.

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