Village Brass

In 1984 the Village Brass — then Hallelujah Brass — began regular rehearsals in anticipation of upcoming church engagements. Remaining original members from the Hallelujah era are the father and son team of Paul Bierley (tuba) and John (cornet). The other members, also from Central Ohio, are Tim Jameson (trumpet), Jennifer Kirby (horn) and Dave King (trombone). 
The name change to Village Brass came as the group donned 1850-period costumes in a long-standing relationship with the Ohio Historical Society, primarily as sideline entertainment for period baseball games held at the Ohio Village. 
Like many quintets in the 1980s, Village Brass soon realized the narrow scope of brass literature. Caught up in the pioneering spirit led by groups such as Canadian Brass and Empire Brass, the Village Brass expanded its library by producing new arrangements and transcriptions. Along the way, band members began creating literature that incorporated other instruments such as percussion and piano. 
Scott Kirby will perform with Village Brass. The group’s relationship with Kirby came about, in large part, through yearly visits to the festival. Village Brass is involved in the ongoing development of music by Kirby and other contemporary composers of the terre verde musical style. This year’s program at the festival will include ragtime arrangements that intertwine piano, brass and percussion. Also featured on the program is xylophone soloist Linda Huff. 
Bierley has been a longtime acquaintance of festival founder George Foreman. Both gentlemen are active in research about important composers of band music. In 2001, Bierley received an honorary doctorate degree from Ohio State University for his 40 years of research on John Philip Sousa and Henry Fillmore, and as editor and publisher of the Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. Bierley’s influence will be reflected in music programmed by Village Brass and other groups at this year’s festival.