December 15, 2014

Brass quintet to play for patients, medical team, at Wilmot Cancer Institute

While the RPO is proud to present a series of annual holiday concerts at the beautiful Eastman Theatre, there are many people who don’t have the opportunity to attend these concerts due to such factors as geography, financial means, or physical limitations. That is why the RPO family is dedicated to finding new ways to share the gift of music with everyone in our community, especially around the holiday season. For the sixth year, the RPO’s brass ensemble will perform a free concert of holiday and classical favorites for the patients and medical team in the Wilmot Cancer Institute Atrium on Friday, December 19 at 1 p.m. This annual concert is sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. John Bennett. Dr. Bennett is Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, as well as a nine-year member of the RPO board and head of the development committee.

“This concert is a nice way of providing the patients with some casual entertainment during the holiday season” said Dr. Bennett, who also said that approximately 75-150 people attend each year. “I have received very positive feedback over the years both from patients and staff over how exciting it was to be present.”

The RPO brass ensemble is a quintet of RPO musicians that includes Doug Prosser (trumpet), Wes Nance (trumpet), Dave Angus (horn), Mark Kellogg (trombone), and Craig Sutherland (tuba). This will also be the second year a Wilmot patient will participate in a special number. Steve Whitman studies tuba with Craig Sutherland at the Eastman Community Music School and is a RPO patron.

“Last year, Steve did an arrangement of Rubber Ducky for two tubas with added percussion played by the rest of the brass quintet - it was a hit!” said Sutherland. This year, the group is excited to debut Whitman’s arrangement of You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch for two solo tubas with quintet accompaniment.

While the Wilmot Cancer Institute Atrium was chosen as the concert space due to its size and central location, the quintet has another reason for enjoying the venue.

“Believe it or not, the atrium is actually a great place to play for acoustics,” said Sutherland. “It’s one of our favorite 'halls' to play in, and the crowd is a nice mix of doctors, nurses, staff and patients, some of whom listen from upstairs 'balcony' seating. It’s a great atmosphere.”


L to R: Douglas Prosser (trumpet), Wes Nance (trumpet), Craig Sutherland (tuba),
Mark Kellogg (trombone), and David Angus (horn), perform in the Wilmot Cancer Institute Atrium.