About the Band

The Spires Brass Band is a traditional British style brass band. This means that the band uses cornets instead of trumpets, tenor horns instead of French horns, flugelhorn, euphoniums and baritones, and Eb and Bb tubas, as well as percussion.

The band's name is derived from the Clustered Spires of Frederick, that were immortalized by John Greenleaf Whittier in his poem "Barbara Fritchie."

The band is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. Contributions to the band are tax deductible, to the extend provided by law.

The band is supported by concert gate receipts, arts grants, and generous corporate and individual donors.

Contact Information
Spires Brass Band, Inc.
P.O. Box 1277
Frederick, MD 21702

For more information please email us at info@spiresbrassband.org.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Spires Brass Band, Inc. is to:

  • Promote the brass band as a cultural medium

  • Increase appreciation in the Frederick area of the brass band

  • Expand the understanding and knowledge of various traditional and contemporary styles of music as performed by the brass band

  • Challenge the musical skills of the performers

  • Provide opportunities for talented and competent brass and percussion musicians to perform brass band music.

History

The Spires Brass Band was organized in 1993 by its music director John Slezak. It was organized to enrich the cultural life of the community by performing traditional and contemporary brass band music in accord with the highest standards of excellence and to give its members the opportunity to participate in music making of the highest caliber.

Highlights of the band's history include performing on the Today show in 1995, with Willard Scott, as part of the 250th Anniversary of the City of Frederick. In 2001, the band entered its first NABBA Championship contest in the Challenge Section and won 1st place. The band also won the 2nd Section (formerly Challenge Section) Championship in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2010. In the nine years the band has competed in NABBA it has won 5 Championships, 2 Second Places, 1 Third Place and 1 Fourth Place. The band was chosen in 2006, to perform for the Maryland Music Educators Annual State Conference in Baltimore.

Guest artists who have performed with Spires include trumpeters Allen Vizzutti, Vince DiMartino, Gabriel DiMartino and Chris Jaudes, trombonist Herb Bruce, tubists Marty Erickson and Stacy Baker. The band also featured mezzo soprano vocalists Tracie Luck, Sara Dell'Omo, from the "President's Own" US Marine Band, Leigh Ann Hinton and Holly Shockey, from the US Army Band. Featured male vocalists were baritone Kevin Bennear, from the "President's Own" US Marine Band and tenor Robert Baker from The Washington Opera. Recent guest performers have included acclaimed pianist Thomas Pandolfi in 2022 and internationally known tenor Richard Troxell in 2023.

2023-2024 Board of Directors

Marvin Wilke - President
Dale Summers - Treasurer
Kimberly Brown - Secretary
Gail Slezak
Randy Rumpf
John Grove
Mark Nichols
George Littrell III (Director Emeritus)
Brian Hinkley (Ex Officio)

Spires Brass Band, Inc. is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. The board of directors provides leadership and logistical support to the organization. Each board member serves for a term of 3 years with staggered terms for continuity. Additionally, the Spires musical director serves in an ex-officio, non-voting position.