KHS America has added Presidio Brass to the KHS America Academic Alliance. The band will now be performing exclusively on XO Professional Brass Instruments.
“Continued dedication to music education is extremely important to us,” said Steve O’Connor, trumpeter in the group. “The type of support that KHS offers to help school band programs provide a quality musical experience to their students was a huge draw. They always just seem to do the right thing and truly understand how to make a difference.”
Among the group’s upcoming educational performances is an event at KHS World Headquarters in Taipei.
“We can’t wait to get our next tour going so we can perform on these horns,” said Josh Bledsoe, trombone player. “We recently visited KHS America, tried a bunch of different models and played a concert for their employees. The thought that went into the design of these XO models was immediately apparent. We all sensed a new level of control and felt at ease playing at all dynamics. These instruments really bring the Presidio sound to life!”
Presidio Brass has performed and offered educational outreach programs throughout North America and China. Their masterclasses have been taught in colleges across the country.
“We are really excited to work with an ensemble that brings youthful excitement and a high level of passion to their performances and educational outreach,” said Rick DeJonge, KHS America artist and educator relations manager. “The group sounds fantastic on their XO horns and will be a natural draw for the next generation of student musicians.”
“After we do a clinic at a school, we like to invite attendees to ‘Pizza with Presidio.’ It gives us the chance to just hang with the kids,” added O’Connor. “We like to get to know the students, form friendships, and talk about the life changing experiences that music provides.”
The group’s 2018 season will feature a brass quintet composition contest sponsored by the KHS America Academic Alliance. The winning student composer will have their piece premiered by Presidio Brass and will receive a concert at their school.
