Boston Conservatory Brass Festival Weekend
September 20–21, 2025
Event Schedule
Solo Competition
Boston Conservatory at Berklee is pleased to host Brass Weekend, a two-day celebration of musical artistry and creativity that all brass musicians and music lovers are invited to join.
The weekend will feature master classes, performances, and presentations by internationally recognized guest artists Caleb Hudson, Adam Unsworth, and Hilary Simms alongside Boston Conservatory at Berklee faculty members Joseph Foley, Richard Kelley, Eli Epstein, Anne Howarth, Norman Bolter, Larry Isaacson, Angel Subero, Ken Amis, and Marcus Rojas.
Guest Artists
New this year, we are excited to include a High School Brass Showcase, providing an opportunity for Boston-area youth orchestra and high school brass sections to share their artistry and engage more deeply with faculty and guest artists.
As part of the festival, the Conservatory will host a special brass competition for prospective undergraduate and graduate students, offering a chance to win a full-tuition scholarship to Boston Conservatory for the entire duration of the program of their choice.
Please note that scholarships are valid only upon full admission to Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
Brass Festival Weekend is presented through Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s Artistry in Action series, which celebrates exceptional artists and initiatives that exemplify Boston Conservatory’s core values of excellence, innovation, and community engagement. All Brass Festival Weekend events are free, but registration is required for the master classes, exhibit hall, and brass solo competition.
Register here
Event Schedule
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Event Registration | 9:00 a.m. | 8 Fenway, Lobby |
Exhibit Hall Opens | 9:00 a.m. | 8 Fenway, Houston Hall—Floor 1 |
Plenary Session: Welcome and Introductions | 9:30 a.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Caleb Hudson Master Class | 10:30 a.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Vendor Exhibit Hall Time | 12:00 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
High School Student Showcase | 1:00 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Instrument Breakout Sessions with Boston Conservatory Brass Faculty | 2:00 p.m. | Trombones: Seully Hall Trumpets: T401 Tubas: Fenway 406 Horns: Ipswich 106 |
Vendor Exhibit Hall Time | 3:00 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Hillary Simms Trombone Master Class | 4:00 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Vendor Exhibit Hall Closes | 5:00 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Trial Lessons with Boston Conservatory Brass Faculty | 6:00 p.m. | Various (Sign up in vendor hall.) |
Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble—Autumn Walk, | 8:00 p.m. | 31 Hemenway, Main Stage Auditorium |
Sunday, September 21, 2025
Event Registration | 9:00 a.m. | 8 Fenway, Lobby |
Exhibit Hall Opens | 9:00 a.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Adam Unsworth Horn Master Class | 9:00 a.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Brass Ensemble Reading Session (Bring your instrument.) | 11:00 a.m. | 132 Ipswich, Room 106 |
Vendor Exhibit Hall Time | 12:30 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Brass Solo Competition Finals | 1:30 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Vendor Exhibit Hall Time | 3:00 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Brass Festival Weekend Artist Recital | 4:00 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Vendor Exhibits Close | 4:00 p.m. | 8 Fenway, Seully Hall—Floor 4 |
Solo Competition Requirements
Interested participants must meet the following criteria, and register for the festival competition no later than August 31, 2025:
- They must be eligible to enroll in a degree or diploma program at Boston Conservatory at Berklee beginning in fall 2026.
- They must have a completed online application on file for Boston Conservatory at Berklee prior to the competition finals on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Boston Conservatory’s application portal is open as of July 1. Learn more about how to apply and get started here.
- They must submit a link to an unedited pre-screen video recording (with or without accompaniment), captured in a single take, including one selection from each of the three required categories, based upon their instrument.
- Note: Recordings of poor quality or those with signs of editing and digital manipulation may be disqualified.
Pre-Screen Competition Requirements
Selected Finalists
Finalists will be notified by August 20, 2025 with an invitation to perform in the live round of the competition on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Rehearsal time on Saturday, September 20, and competition accompaniment will be provided.
For this live competition round, finalists must perform a piece from the competition requirements listed below. Note: Finalists are not required to perform their selection from memory.
Final Round Live Performance Competition Requirements
Any other questions can be emailed to Matthew Marsit at mmarsit@berklee.edu.