The Four Horsemen Tuba Quartet
The name stems from the group's original connection to the Kentucky Horse Park, but now the group plays at many central Kentucky locations.
The group formed in 1989 with music students who performed for the Kentucky Horse Park. After several summers of playing at the horse park, the group disbanded and did not reform until 1995.
Alumni of the group can be found throughout the United States in various performing and teaching capacities, including the United States Navy Band, the United States Coast Guard Band, and the Richmond Symphony.
Many Lexingtonians have enjoyed the group's sound while downing some suds. The Four Horsemen particularly enjoy playing during the month of October at Lexington City Brewery.
``We were the house band for the Oktoberfest,'' said member Tony Granados, who plays tuba and is the group's manager. They also acted as the brewery's pep band during the NCAA finals.
The Four Horsemen appeared at the Lexington Brewing Company on behalf of the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra's ``Orchestrated Event,'' titled ``Beer, Brats & Bach.''
Although those were fun engagements, the group's current claim to fame is winning the ensemble competition of the North American Brass Band Association Conference.
Many of their musical selections are popular ones. They will play Scott Joplin, Henry Mancini and John Philip Sousa along with jazz and Dixieland.
``We've got a ripping arrangement of `Bugler's Holiday' that everybody loves,'' Granados says.
Members who will join Granados in playing at the festival are: Brian Meixner on euphonium; Robert Harrold, also on euphonium, who resurrected the group and has been teaching in Fort Hays, Kan.; and Jim Willett, tuba professor at Eastern Kentucky University.
