The students get to see the power of the music they’ re playing. That’ s why I wanted them to get out of the schools and music stores and into the community to play for people.
For more than five years, the Bridgeville Brass quintet has been enjoying the success of meeting the needs of students and the community through music.
In 2012, Ryan Wolf founded the group so aspiring young musicians could improve their skills and the community would also benefit.“ The students get a great experience and the audience has a great experience,” Wolf says.“ It’ s all worth it, even though finding a need and then making it happen can be difficult.”
The inspiration for the Bridgeville Brass came from Wolf’ s experience as a young trumpet player at South Fayette High School. He formed an independent jazz band with some friends, and they played at local venues. Wolf wanted to give students the chance to perform in public without depending on anyone else.“ You don’ t get that a lot in schools,” he notes.
The Bridgeville Brass performs at several events throughout the year, which will include the Bridgeville / South Fayette Relay For Life on May 20 at the South Fayette High School stadium. Other events have been Christmas concerts and performances at local retirement homes. Wolf says the elderly residents love hearing the students perform.
“ They’ re like rock stars!” he explains.“ The students get to see the power of the music they’ re playing. That’ s why I wanted them to get out of the schools and music stores and into the community to play for people.”
Both Wolf and the students have learned a lot from their participation in the Bridgeville Brass. Wolf originally conducted every single song when he founded the quintet, but quit doing that after a friend suggested he stop.
“ It forces them to listen to each other,” he notes.“ If they get into trouble, they have to dig themselves out of it. Stepping away makes them rely on each other.”
The result is a very close-knit quintet. Kristen Davis is a junior at South Fayette High School and joined the Bridgeville Brass two
“
The students get to see the power of the music they’ re playing. That’ s why I wanted them to get out of the schools and music stores and into the community to play for people.
”
years ago. She enjoys the final Christmas performance every year because the alumni members also participate.
“ It’ s really nice to see everyone again,” Kristen says.“ The greatest part of Bridgeville Brass to me is getting to play music with all the guys in the group.”
Nate Setar is a founding member of the Bridgeville Brass and plays flugelhorn. He joined in eighth grade and is now a senior at Canon-McMillan High School. Nate says the experience has been invaluable:“ I’ ve learned a lot from Ryan and the other members I don’ t think I would’ ve learned had I not been in a brass quintet setting.” Playing in the Bridgeville Brass also stimulated his love for music. He would like to play in Penn State’ s Blue Band when he attends the university, planning to study nursing.
Other members of the quintet include Matthew Pukansky, trumpet, Canon- McMillan High School; Noah Kilgus, trumpet, South Fayette High School; and Luke Pedersen, tuba, Chartiers Valley High School.
For more information on the Bridgeville Brass, visit wolftrumpetlessons. com / bridgevillebrass. php online. n
South Fayette | Spring 2017 | icmags. com 15