By Zach Dunkin
The Indianapolis Brass Choir is a large brass ensemble of about 30 people who volunteer their time, talent and effort to provide music for area churches and to aid local charities.
Its next beneficiary is Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic Church in Fishers with its cherished Steinway piano. The IBC will perform at 3 p.m. Sept. 18. The concert is free and open to the public, although a freewill offering will be taken to help offset the cost of the church’s new Steinway piano.
“It’s a Steinway B that lists for $95,000 and we paid $58,000 from one of the five available B’s at Meridian Music,” said David Young, who joined the church staff in 2012. “It’s an artist’s model, which means it was used by concert artists around the country on the various tours.”
The church was founded in 1976 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary at its original site just south of 116th St. at 11441 Hague Rd. Meanwhile, the IBC is tooting its horn(s) during its 30th season.
The program will include the Indianapolis-area premier of James Beckel’s “Music for Brass and Percussion.”
Founded in 1986, the IBC has a membership of professional and semi-professional musicians and serious amateurs who meet for weekly rehearsals and perform eight to 12 concerts a year. Led by musical director Darin Sorley, the ensemble includes trumpets, trombones, horns, euphoniums, tubas and percussion.
The IBC’s main hosts are area churches bringing high quality brass ensemble music to their communities. These performances aid the local churches’ music programs by providing the opportunity for their choir or organist to perform with the IBC and enhance their music ministry.
Because the IBC is not paid for its performances, freewill offerings are collected at intermission. All the money collected is given to a charity designated by the church. The IBC has raised more than $80,000 for charities since its founding.
