The JMU Brass Band is one of only a few collegiate brass bands in the United States. Formed in the Fall of 2000, the band has twice been named the North American Brass Band Association 1st Section Champion (2004, 2005) and was the 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2016 NABBA Championship Section Runner-up. The group maintains an active performance schedule throughout the academic year, performing regularly both on and off campus. The band was a featured ensemble at the 2006 Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky and both the 2004 and 2014 Virginia Music Educators Conference in Norfolk, Virginia. In the summer of 2008, the ensemble embarked on a concert tour of England and Wales sharing the stage with many outstanding bands including the No. 1 ranked brass band in the world, Cory Band. In 2009, the group became the first brass band to perform a full length concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Always interested in showcasing new repertoire, the band has given the North American premiere of a number of major works for brass band. The band is regularly ranked in the top 150 brass bands worldwide according to World of Brass/British Bandsman rankings.
The ensemble has been host to a number of guest artists including Steven Mead, euphonium; Sheona White, tenor horn; Vince DiMartino, trumpet; Allen Vizzutti, trumpet; Katrina Marzella, baritone; Richard Sebring, horn; Colin Williams, trombone; Chris Gekker, trumpet; David Childs, euphonium; Les Neish, tuba; Brett Baker, trombone; Glenn van Looy, euphonium; David Thornton, euphonium and Carol Jantsch, tuba.
In the summer of 2012, the JMU Brass Band was one of three featured brass bands performing at the 2012 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference in Linz, Austria. The band was also recognized in The Royal College of Music (RNCM) Brass Band Festival in Manchester, England in the winter of 2017, alongside prestigious bands such as the Cory Band and Black Dyke. The JMU Brass Band is the first brass band from the United States to be invited to the festival.
The ensemble has been host to a number of guest artists including Steven Mead, euphonium; Sheona White, tenor horn; Vince DiMartino, trumpet; Allen Vizzutti, trumpet; Katrina Marzella, baritone; Richard Sebring, horn; Colin Williams, trombone; Chris Gekker, trumpet; David Childs, euphonium; Les Neish, tuba; Brett Baker, trombone; Glenn van Looy, euphonium; David Thornton, euphonium and Carol Jantsch, tuba.
In the summer of 2012, the JMU Brass Band was one of three featured brass bands performing at the 2012 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference in Linz, Austria. The band was also recognized in The Royal College of Music (RNCM) Brass Band Festival in Manchester, England in the winter of 2017, alongside prestigious bands such as the Cory Band and Black Dyke. The JMU Brass Band is the first brass band from the United States to be invited to the festival.