Low Brass Choir: Low and Behold

CSU, Chico’s School of the Arts presents the low brass choir concert, Low and Behold on Saturday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Alumni of the Low Brass Choir will join the current ensemble for a night full of music.

Low brass choirs consist of wind instruments. These instruments include the tenor sax, trombone, bass clarinet, tuba, and French horn. 

Some of the works that will be performed at the concert were written by Johannes Brahms, John Philip Sousa, Stan Kenton, and Edvard Grieg.

Brahms (1833–1897) was one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. The German composer wrote multiple types of music including symphonies, piano works, concerti, choral compositions, and chamber music. 

Sousa (1854–1932) was an American composer and conductor also from the Romantic era. He is well known for composing military marches. Sousa wrote 136 military marches over the course of his career.

Kenton (1911–1979) was an American composer and pianist influenced by the swing movement. 

Swing, otherwise known as Big Band music, is a style of jazz that is distinguished by a smoother beat with less complex harmonies and rhythms.

Grieg (1843–1907), a Norwegian composer and pianist, was one of the leading composers and musicians of the Romantic era. His works are known for having a refined lyrical component.

The director of the concert is Lloyd Roby, a low brass specialist who also serves as the director of the Secondary Music Education Program at CSU, Chico. He has performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Band, Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Sacramento Symphony Orchestra. Roby has also backed entertainers such as Ray Charles, Barry Manilow, and Vic Damone. 

Roby is conductor of the Paradise Symphony Orchestra and is clinician and adjudicator for numerous music events. He holds degrees from Indiana University, Northwestern University, and Duquesne University.

More information about the concert is available by calling 530-898-5152.

Lloyd Roby is the Low Brass Specialist and Director of Secondary Music Education.  He has performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Tommy Dorsey Band, Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, and Sacramento Symphony Orchestra. Roby has also backed entertainers such as Ray Charles, Barry Manilow, Vic Damone, etc. He is conductor of the Paradise Symphony Orchestra and is clinician and adjudicator for numerous events. He holds degrees from Indiana University, Northwestern University, and Duquesne University. He has been President of the CMEA, North Section and served as advisor of the student chapter of NAfME. During that time, the chapter was given two national awards and one state award.