Canadian Brass Quintent Brings the Sass of Brass to the MAC with CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

Internationally renowned quintet Canadian Brass brings their Grammy-winning music in two performances of "Christmas Time is Here" to the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage, Saturday, Dec. 1, at 4 and 8 p.m. A free MAC Chat will take place one hour prior to curtain time for each performance.

Canadian Brass performs on 24-karat gold-plated Conn-Selmer instruments and is an exclusive Opening Day recording artist. The ensemble is known worldwide for their fun and festive music featured in joyous performances with genre-bending versatility appropriate for audiences of all ages. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The hallmark feature of any Canadian Brass performance is the high-flying entertainment, virtuosity and spontaneity. These may not be the most common descriptors of most brass shows, but with lively dialogue, theatrical effects and the best of both classic and traditional brass music, a Canadian Brass performance is no common show. The Star raves, "you have a perfectly lovely, happily sappy, eggnog-induced evening that even a critic could enjoy."

Canadian Brass has toured worldwide and released more than130 albums. The group has performed on "The Tonight Show," "Today" and "Entertainment Tonight," among others. The quintet has made trips across the world, including earning the distinction of the first brass ensemble from the West to perform in the People's Republic of China as well as performing on Hunan TV for Chinese New Year.

Canadian Brass has been honored with numerous awards throughout their nearly six decades as a group, including a Grammy award in 2000, a German Music Industry Award in 2002 and the Silver Rose at the Golden Rose Festival in Switzerland in 1998. Additionally, the group has won numerous Ensemble and Juno Awards. Originally founded in 1970 by Chuck Daellenbach and Gene Watts, the group now features Daellenbach on tuba alongside Jeff Nelson (horn), Achilles Liarmakopoulos (trombone), Chris Coletti (trumpet) and Caleb Hudson (trumpet).

Daellenbach (tuba) is a founding member of Canadian Brass and quite possibly the most recognizable tuba player in the world, having appeared on over 100 recordings. Along with original co-founder Gene Watts, Dallenbach twice gave "command" performances for the Queen of England. He is also known for his engaging, comedic dialogue throughout Canadian Brass performances.

Nelson (horn) has spent nine years performing with Canadian Brass, recently returning from a hiatus while he continues to serve as a professor at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Nelson played the complete run of two Broadway shows in New York City that were nominated for Tony Awards and has toured with Michael Bolton and Barry Manilow. He has recorded with Michael Buble and the pop band "The Barenaked Ladies," has performed concerti with orchestras on six continents and served as President of the International Horn Society from 2014-2016.

Liarmakopoulos (trombone) has played with Canadian Brass since 2011. He is a frequent performer with Pink Martini and has worked with numerous orchestras and philharmonics throughout the world. Liarmakopoulos has toured throughout North and South America as well as Europe and Asia, playing selections from the five solo albums in his discography. In 2013, he was invited to perform with salsa icon Ruben Blades at concerts in Lincoln Center and Madison Square Garden. He also works as adjunct trombone professor at Brooklyn College at CUNY University in New York.

Coletti (trumpet) has been performing and arranging music with Canadian Brass since 2009. Coletti has worked with musicians ranging from Carlos Santana to Gloria Estefan to Miami Sound Machine to Pierre Poulez. He has also performed hundreds of concerts, television and radio shows across the globe. Coletti is also responsible for a large amount of the arrangements Canadian Brass plays regularly.

Hudson (trumpet) has performed solo in Carnegie Hall and appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live," among his many other appearances and performances. He also works writing and arranging music for Canadian Brass, which has appeared on two of the group's more recent albums. Hudson also works as Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of North Texas College of Music.

Canadian Brass encourages the audience to take non-flash photography at the concert. In return they ask that the photos be posted and tagged on the Canadian Brass' website, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. CDs will be available in the lobby during intermission and after the concert and Brass will be giving away a free release track to those that sign up at the CD table. In addition, the performers will be in the lobby after the show to autograph CDs.

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit arts.gov.

Canadian Brass come to the McAninch Arts Center, located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage, on Saturday, Dec.1 at 4 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $30-$49. For tickets and more information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000. A free MAC Chat will take place one hour prior to each performance.

VIP Suite Service is available for the 8 p.m. concert for an additional cost of an additional $30 per person and includes a private, pre-show cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception beginning at 7:15 p.m., followed by coffee and dessert at intermission.

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