Brass act
Dallas quintet shares spotlight, knowledge with Berryville bands

Members of the Berryville High School and Middle School bands got what band directors Doug and Tonya Blevins called “the chance of a lifetime” last week to perform with world-class musicians in front of hundreds of people.

The Dallas Brass, in the middle of a tour of Arkansas schools that also included stops in Rogers and Springdale, made the side trip to Berryville after the group’s leader, director Michael Levine, contacted Blevins.

“The leader, Michael Levine, contacted me to see if it would be possible for them to make the hour-and-a-half trip over to Berryville in October and I said, ‘Yes!,’” Blevins said.

The quintet — which features Brian Neal and D.J. Barraclough on trumpet; Juan Berrios on horn, alto horn and Flugelhorn; John Wasson on trombone; and Paul Carlson on tuba, along with percussionist Craig Hill — has appeared with symphony orchestras worldwide and has performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and has toured Europe and the Far East, in addition to its extensive solo engagements.

They were in Arkansas visiting schools as part of the group’s “Music in the Schools” project, which takes them into public schools to present clinics, workshops and concerts with young musicians of all ages. Blevins said he had worked with the group previously and was well aware of the benefits of participating in the program, so when the opportunity presented itself, he wasted no time.

“I have known the group leader personally for over 25 years,” Blevins said. “I hosted the Dallas Brass three times when I taught in Rogers Public Schools. Each time it has had a lasting impact on the band program inspiring kids to continue in music and become better at what they do.”

Dallas Brass tuba player Paul Carlson plays a solo during a performance Monday, Oct. 3, at Bobcat Arena in Berryville. The group also includes (rear, from left) John Wasson, Juan Berrios, D. J. Barraclough, and Brian Neal, along with (not pictured) director Michael Levine and percussionist Craig Hill. Submitted photo

As part of the program, group members held clinics for high school and middle school band students ahead of last Monday’s concert at Bobcat Arena, sharing their knowledge with 155 Berryville students.

Blevins said the group’s members spent “the entire day” working with students, offering suggestions on how to become better musicians and shining a light on the life of a touring musician.

“This is such a unique opportunity for the students and it doesn’t come around very often,” said Doug Blevins.

After the clinics came the concert. More than 850 people, including music students from Green Forest, Alpena and Eureka Springs schools, were in attendance.

“It was amazing to see the look on our students’ faces as they performed with these world-class musicians,” said Tonya Blevins. “We are so grateful for the community support of music here in Berryville.”

During the concert, 155 Berryville band students were able to perform with the Dallas Brass, with those in grades 7-8 performing music from Star Wars, while the 9-12 grade students performed a collection of patriotic music called “American Tableau.”

In special message included in the concert program, Berryville Mayor Tim McKinney expressed his thanks to the Dallas Brass for working with the Berryville students.

“The citizens of Berryville take great pride in the accomplishments of the Berryville High School Band and look forward to this concert as not only great entertainment, but also a chance for our students to learn from some of the best musicians in our great country,” McKinney wrote. Berryville Schools superintendent Owen Powell shared similar thoughts.

“Berryville is fortunate to have an excellent band program led by Mr. Doug Blevins,” Powell wrote in his message. “Their hard work and dedication are evident by the performance and success of the program. Performing with the Dallas Brass is an incredible opportunity for our students.”