NW Missouri Times

Northwest Missouri State University is set to host its second annual Brass Festival on Sunday, November 17. The event will feature the Lantana Trio as guest artists. The trio consists of Raquel Samayoa on trumpet, Stacie Mickens on horn, and Natalie Mannix on trombone.

The festival offers aspiring brass musicians a chance to develop their skills through masterclasses, performances, rehearsals, and presentations. Northwest faculty members Stacy Lendt, Dr. William Richardson, and Dr. William Sutton will also participate in the event.

Activities will begin at 1 p.m. in the Charles Johnson Theater at the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building with a welcome concert and an all-state help session for high school students. Participants will have opportunities to practice and play together as an ensemble.

The Lantana Trio, known for advocating diversity in the arts, will lead a question-answer session and discuss practice techniques. Their album "Crossing Barriers" has been recognized with several awards, including the 2023 Global Music Award Silver Medal Winner.

Stacy Lendt joined Northwest this fall as an adjunct horn professor with extensive experience as a freelance private horn teacher and band director. Dr. William Richardson has been part of Northwest since 1999 and has held various roles including Dennis C. Dau Endowed Professor of Music from 2018 to 2021. Dr. William Sutton joined in 2022 and performs on euphonium, tuba, and trombone.

The festival is free and open to the public.