THE IOWA BRASS QUINTET was first formed as a resident faculty ensemble at the University of Iowa in the early 1960s. The group performs on the UI campus each semester and for schools, universities, and community concert associations throughout the Midwest. Each year, the IBQ presents many elementary and junior high concerts in Iowa and Illinois, considering this outreach an important part of their mission. The IBQ has performed at many of the leading regional and national music educators’ and composers' conferences.

The IBQ has been committed since its inception to the performance and promotion of new music for brass quintet. In its early years the group recorded for CRI and Trilogy Records, and it has pre smiered works by Charles Wuorinen, Allan Blank, Paul Turok, and James Dowdy, among others. The IBQ’s most recent CD is entitled “Americana: A University of Iowa Celebration.” The recording celebrates the University of Iowa Sesquicentennial by presenting music composed by faculty and students who have been associated with the UI School of Music.

DAVID GREENHOE, trumpet, is Professor of Music at The University of Iowa and principal trumpet with the Quad City Symphony. He is an active soloist and recitalist, and in the summer season he serves as solo trumpeter with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and was a member and soloist with the United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C.

BRIAN UMLAH, trumpet, is a doctoral candidate at UI and a member of the Quad City Symphony. Additionally, he has performed with ensembles including the Cedar Rapids Symphony and brass quintet, the Waterbury (CT) Symphony, Orchestra New England, and the Columbia Festival Orchestra (NY). He is a graduate of The University of Iowa and Yale University.

JEFFREY AGRELL, horn, is Associate Professor at the UI School of Music. Agrell came to UI in 2000 after a long career as a professional symphony musician. He has won awards as a writer and composer, and is on the Advisory Council of the International Horn Society. His latest CD is "Mosaic" with Duende (horn, cello, piano) on MSR Classics and his new book is "Improvisation Games for Classical Musicians" (GIA Publications, 2007).

DAVID GIER, trombone, is Professor of trombone and Associate Director for Graduate Studies at Iowa. He has been a member of the Springfield (MA) Symphony and Orchestra New England, and is currently principal trombone of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.  Gier spends his summers in Colorado, as principal trombone of the Breckenridge Festival Orchestra. Before joining the faculty at Iowa, he taught at Baylor University. He is a graduate of The University of Michigan and Yale University.

JOHN MANNING, tuba, is a founding member of the award-winning Atlantic Brass Quintet and Assistant Professor of tuba and euphonium at Iowa. He has toured and recorded with the Atlantic Brass since 1985 and has served on the faculties of the Boston Conservatory, Boston University and the University of Massachusetts. He has performed with the Boston Symphony, Empire Brass and the Boston Pops.

Iowa Brass Quintet

Chamber Music Society Fairfield appearances:

01-11-2009 IBQ at ICON Gallery