Performer Details
Performer Bio Synopsis
The Fountain City Brass Band, founded in 2002, is a volunteer ensemble based in Kansas City. Since 2004, Fountain City Brass Band has won seven U.S. Open Brass Band Championships and five North American Brass Band Championships. In November 2009 Fountain City Brass Band became the first American band to win a major brass band competition at the Scottish Open Brass Band Championships. Fountain City Brass Band has collaborated with several artists, including Wycliffe Gordon, Jens Lindemann, Steven Mead, David Childs, Øystein Baadsvik, and Joe Burgstaller. Members of the thirty-piece ensemble have performed with such prestigious ensembles as the New York Philharmonic, St. Louis Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, Empire Brass, United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, Mr. Jack Daniel’s Silver Cornet Band, Black Dyke Band, Fodens Band, YBS Band, Halle Orchestra, Lieksa Symphony and numerous New York City Broadway productions including Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera. They have also taught on the faculties of numerous colleges and universities.
Fountain City Brass Band
Conductor's Bio
Joseph Parisi is a Professor at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance where he conducts the Conservatory Wind Ensemble and serves as the chair of music education and music therapy. Professor Parisi has also made professional appearances both nationally and abroad conducting music festivals, adjudicating ensembles and presenting clinics, lectures and workshops throughout the United States, United Kingdom, China, and Europe.
His commitment to wind band music continues as he enters his 13th year as the director of the Conservatory Wind Ensemble. Under his direction, the Conservatory Wind Ensemble has collaborated with many outstanding artists and composers, has been invited to perform at state and regional performances, and continues to commission and perform new works each year.
Parisi’s has several professional recording credits to his portfolio including the Fountain City Brass Band and additional ensembles as a conductor and trumpet performer. He is the principal conductor of the Summit Brass at the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute in Denver and the Fountain City Brass Band.
Since becoming the conductor of Kansas City’s Fountain City Brass Band the group has been recognized as one of the world’s top brass bands, with 12 winning performances at the North American Brass Band Championships and the US Open Brass Band Championship. As a result of Parisi’s work, he has been nominated numerous times for the Conductor of the Year Award, and received the winning conductor award at the 2009 Scottish Open.
Parisi completed a bachelor’s degree in music education at the State University of New York at Potsdam (Crane School of Music); a master’s degree in trumpet performance from Florida State University and a PhD in instrumental conducting/music education from Florida State University. While at the Conservatory, Parisi has received the Kauffman Outstanding Service Award (2005) the Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award in (2009), and the Kauffman Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity.
Joseph Parisi is a Professor at the UMKC Conservatory of Music where he serves as chair of music education and music therapy and conducts the Wind Ensemble. He has made professional appearances conducting, adjudicating ensembles, and presenting clinics, lectures and workshops throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and China. He is also the principal conductor of Summit Brass and the Fountain City Brass Band. While at UMKC, Parisi received the Outstanding Service Award, Excellence in Teaching Award, and the Award for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam), a master’s degree in trumpet performance from Florida State University and a PhD in music education from Florida State University.
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