Brass IMPACT!

Performer Details

Performer Bio Synopsis

Brass IMPACT! is a dynamic professional brass ensemble, performing an eclectic mix of classical, jazz, rock, fusion, and contemporary original works and arrangements. The ensemble's mission is to collaborate with host organizations to present exceptional concerts that raise funds for impactful charities, including the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, the Piedmont Wind Symphony / UNCSA Fellowship programs, and Notes of Hope, which supports music education in Western North Carolina and beyond. Comprised of some of the nation’s finest brass musicians, the ensemble features performers who also play with prominent orchestras and wind bands such as the North Carolina Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, and the Piedmont Wind Symphony. In addition to their performance careers, many members are distinguished educators, serving on the faculties of leading institutions including UNC Greensboro, Winston-Salem State University, and the UNC School of the Arts. Brass IMPACT! operates under Amarka Creative, founded by Amanda and Mark Norman, blending artistry, education, and community impact to create memorable musical experiences that inspire and give back.

Conductor's Bio

Mark A. Norman has enjoyed a career spanning over 40 years as a conductor, tuba performer, producer, and educator. He currently serves as Artistic Director and Conductor of the Piedmont Wind Symphony (PWS) and the Director of Instrumental Ensembles at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). During his tenure with PWS, Norman has led the professional ensemble in critically acclaimed performances and producing recordings of new works by Brian Balmages, John Mackey, and Randall Standridge. At UNCSA, he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, Bergstone Brass Ensemble, and Student Composer Orchestra. He also teaches courses in conducting, music entrepreneurship, and leads the graduate conducting program. In 2022, Norman orchestrated and developed a live soundtrack for the play Amadeus, serving as Music Director for a production featuring twenty on-stage and costumed musicians. Most recently, he recorded the 1945 version of The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky with the UNCSA Symphony Orchestra for an upcoming national tour with Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Birds of Paradise by James Syler with saxophone soloist Robert Young. Dr. Norman previously served on the conducting faculties of the University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Washburn University, and Towson University. As a performer, he held principal tuba positions with several orchestras and served as a member of the United States Navy Band in Washington, D.C. He has appeared as a tuba soloist with orchestras, bands, at conferences, and in recital performances throughout the United States and Europe, and he is the winner of several solo and chamber music competitions. His recording credits include performances with the Fountain City Brass Band and the United States Navy Band. As a producer, Norman was nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on the UNC Greensboro Wind Ensemble recording Fireworks, and he was also nominated for a Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in Virginia. He is the founder and conductor of Brass IMPACT!, a dynamic professional brass ensemble dedicated to raising funds for charitable causes across North Carolina and beyond. Under his leadership, Brass IMPACT! has been selected to perform at The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, Illinois, in December 2025. He resides in Pfafftown, North Carolina, with his wife, Amanda, their two dogs, Miles and Marley, and their cat, Max.