Inspiration

Sounds of Gold

● St. Barnabas on the Desert

Welcome to the Salt River Brass’ 38 season! Your favorite brass band invites you to Sounds of Gold, an inspiring evening that showcases the full power, warmth, and brilliance of our brass tradition. Join us on October 4, 2026, at Saint Barnabas in Scottsdale for a rich and varied program exploring lyricism from Baroque to Romantic eras, while adding a bold modern flair. Highlights include beloved works by Mozart, Strauss, Dvořák, Debussy, Bach, and Handel, alongside audience favorites like España by Chabrier, Forgotten Dreams by Leroy Anderson, and Malcolm Arnold’s celebratory Flourish for a Birthday. (If it’s your birthday or a birthday from one of your loved ones, this one could be especially dedicated to you or them!) The concert features lyrical solos such as in Song My Mother Taught Me by Dvorak, and, as it is now our tradition, a special set by organist Michael Salazar, whose collaboration adds beautiful depth to selections from Handel’s Messiah and Arthur Sullivan’s The Lost Chord. With timeless melodies and our favorite golden brass sound throughout, Sounds of Gold promises an unforgettable event to open our season with brilliance.

Heroes

● Mesa Arts Center

Your Salt River Brass proudly presents Heroes, a powerful and patriotic concert honoring service, sacrifice, and the enduring American spirit. Join us on November 8, 2026, at 3pm at the Ikeda Theatre of the Mesa Arts Center for an afternoon of stirring music that celebrates those who inspire us through courage and dedication. Highlights include Philip Sparke’s exhilarating Slipstream, the haunting beauty of The Ashokan Farewell, and James Curnow’s beloved Legend in Brass. March favorites by John Philip Sousa—including Hands Across the Sea, El Capitan, King Cotton, and the rousing finale Stars and Stripes Forever—anchor the evening with unmistakable American flair. As it is our tradition, a special house-lit Armed Forces Salute invites audience members to stand and be recognized, making Heroes not just a concert, but a shared moment of gratitude and pride. Come enjoy one of the Brass’ most inspiring and powerful program; you will inevitably feel energized by the dedication and energy in the room.

Believe

With PCC + SRB Combined

● Mesa Arts Center

Your Salt River Brass presents Believe and invites you to embrace the season with a joyful holiday spectacular on December 13 (or December 20, TBD), 2026, at 3pm at the Ikeda Theatre of the Mesa Arts Center, in a magical collaboration with the Phoenix Children’s Chorus, which is quickly becoming one of the Valley’s most heart-warming holiday tradition. This festive concert blends the brilliance of brass with the radiant voices of young singers for an evening full of wonder, tradition, and seasonal fun. The first half showcases the Salt River Brass in festive favorites including March of the Toys, the sparkling Schneewalzer (Snow Waltz), a crowd-pleasing trombone solo on You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch, as well as holiday favorites such as The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, and Rhapsody for Hanukkah, ending with our choreographed and highly entertaining Santa Claustrophobia. After intermission, the Phoenix Children’s Chorus takes center stage before joining forces once again with Salt River Brass for shared selections and a rousing, joy-filled finale of Sleigh Ride. Filled with laughter, reflection, and seasonal sparkle, this concert is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays with all your family and friends.

Heatwave

● Mesa Arts Center

Your favorite brass band turns up the temperature with Heatwave, an electrifying concert on February 28, 2027, at 3pm at the Mesa Arts Center (Ikeda Theatre), featuring acclaimed flamenco dancer Yumi La Rosa. Blending the fiery rhythms of Spain and Latin America with the swagger of jazz, this genre-crossing evening brings brass, movement, and groove together in spectacular fashion. The concert opens with Salt River Brass alone in the sultry drama of Lecuona’s Malagueña, before Yumi La Rosa joins the ensemble for rhythm-driven favorites including Amparito Roca, Spanish Romanza, and the lush, expressive Spanish Trumpets featuring the SRB cornet section. Latin classics like El Cumbanchero and Spanish Eyes add sparkle, while a virtuosic solo on La Virgen de la Macarena brings the first half to a thrilling close. After intermission, the stage expands with the addition of the Salt River Youth Brass Band (SRYBB) for a sizzling jazz-infused second half. Highlights include Quincy Jones’s Soul Bossa Nova, Ellington favorites Caravan and Concerto for Cootie, the iconic Birdland, and a fiery finale of Sing, Sing, Sing. From flamenco’s passion to big band swing, Heatwave is an afternoon of bold rhythms, hot solos, and unstoppable energy that you do not want to miss.

Rising

● Mesa Arts Center

Salt River Brass takes the stage with Rising, a powerful and celebratory concert spotlighting the next generation of brass musicians alongside seasoned performers. In collaboration with the Salt River Youth Brass Band (SRYBB) and guest artist and euphonium superstar Hiram Diaz, this program blends bold classics, thrilling contemporary works, and the excitement of youth artistry in full voice. The concert opens with SRYBB’s energetic set, featuring Gordon Langford’s Little Suite for Brass, before Salt River Brass launches into favorites like Sparke’s Orient Express and Kaye’s Queensbury, closing our first half with a massive combined-band finale of Paul Lovatt-Cooper’s Wall of Sound. After intermission, the program continues to climb with new and featured works by Isaac Davanzo, tubist in the brass band section, a special set curated with Hiram Diaz himself, and a joyful, full-ensemble finale: Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever—uniting SRB, SRYBB, and Diaz on stage. From emerging voices to brass band power and excellence, Rising is a celebration that is beautifully closing our season together.