The Midnight Brass Quintet ♫

Welcome to the online home of the Midnight Brass Quintet!  While we have had a wonderful four year run as a working and performing ensemble, our time as students together is over, unfortunately, and many of us are off to see the world.  We are so grateful to our friends, family, and teachers for their continued love and support.  We are also grateful to the Peabody Conservatory, our now alma mater, where we were recently awarded the Grace Clagett Ranney Prize in Chamber Music.

The site will remain up, so please check back for news regarding possible reunion concerts.  Scroll down below to see the updated bios, and check out the exciting future plans for our members!

Comprised of students from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, the Midnight Brass Quintet has enjoyed a number of successes both within and outside Peabody.  From masterclass performances with musicians such as the Atlantic Brass Quintet, Graham Ashton, the Boston Brass, and the Oklahoma Brass Quintet, to performances on the Thursday Noon and Elderhostel Recital Series, MBQ began and remains as active contributers to the Peabody community.  In addition to recital and masterclass performances within Peabody, MBQ is also active as a commercial chamber ensemble throughout the greater Baltimore area.  MBQ is currently the ensemble in residence at the First and Franklin Presbyterian Church, where they have performed multiple solo recitals, as well as Easter Sunday worship services. MBQ has also given solo recitals at the Academy Art Museum in Easton, MD, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute on the Art of Healing Concert Series, and the Church of the Redeemer in Springfield, PA.  MBQ was previously hired to perform for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's unveiling of the 2006- 07 concert season at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.  MBQ has also given outreach concerts within the community through Peabody's Creative Access and has performed for organizations such as the Baltimore School for the Blind and My Sister's House.  Two summers ago, MBQ spent 10 days as fellowship participants at the Summer Brass Institute in Menlo Park, California, where they performed with and were coached by members of the Bay Brass.  MBQ is currently coached weekly by Phil Munds of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

The Midnight Brass Quintet is available for a variety of employment purposes and has a diverse repertoire, from traditional baroque brass to jazz and dixie.  Please see our  audio section for recording samples and our contact page for contact information.

Chris Shiley, trumpet
Philadelphia, PA

Chris Shiley is from Newtown Square, Pennsylvania where he began his studies of trumpet with John Thyhsen, member of the Philadelphia Pops Orchestra. He has performed with the Philadelphia Sinfonia, Philadelphia Bravo Brass Ensemble, and the Aspen Music Festival.  Chris recently graduated from the Peabody Conservatory where he studied with Ed Hoffman and Joe Burgstaller and was Principal of the Peabody Concert Orchestra.  He has also been a member of the Peabody Wind Ensemble, Trumpet Ensemble, and Peabody Camerata.  Chris will be continuing his trumpet career in the Baltimore area.

Emma Stanley, trumpet
Lamoine, ME

Emma, recently graduated from the Peabody Conservatory, studied classical trumpet with Ed Hoffman and Joe Burgstaller and served as assistant principal trumpet in the Peabody Symphony Orchestra.  Also an avid jazz performer, she was a member of the Peabody Jazz Orchestra, Peabody Latin Jazz Ensemble, Peabody Lab Band, and the Median Jazz Ensemble.  She has studied jazz with Ingrid Jensen, Mike Formanek, Tim Murphy, and Gary Thomas. She attended one semester at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore as one of the Peabody's first exchange students.  Emma is currently employed by Royal Carribbean Cruise Lines, playing trumpet as part of the on-board entertainment.

David Smith, horn
Myrtle Beach, SC

David recently graduated from the Peabody Conservatory where he studied horn with Phil Munds. He joined the Midnight Brass in the fall of 2007, becoming its newest member.  He was Co-Principal of the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, and has been a member of the Peabody Concert Orchestra as well as the Peabody Wind Ensemble.  He performs regularly with the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and has also been a participant at the Aspen and Pierre Monteaux Music Festivals.  In the fall, David will be attending the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scottland.

 

Audrey Christensen, trombone
Salinas, CA

Audrey recently graduated from the Peabody Conservatory where she studied trombone with James Olin.  She was a member of the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, Renaissance Ensemble, and Camerata, and has also been a participant at the Alba (Italy), Instrumenta (Mexico), and Hot Springs Music Festivals.  Her previous teachers include Tom Hornig, Jemmie Robertson, Michael Mulcahy, Chris Dudley, and her father, Carl Christensen.  Audrey hopes to attend graduate school in Germany in the fall.

Chris Reber, tuba
Kingsville, MD

Chris recently received his Bachelor of Music degree in Tuba Performance from the Peabody Conservatory, where he studied with Toby Hanks and David Fedderly.  He is currently principal tuba in the Peabody Symphony Orchestra, and has previously been a member of the Peabody Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble.  Next year, Chris will continue at Peabody to complete his undergraduate degree in Recording Arts and Sciences, as well as his Masters in Accoustics.