About

Colorado Brass is the state's premier British-style brass band. The ensemble is comprised of thirty brass players and percussionists from all over Colorado. Members come to the band as professional musicians, music educators, students, and brass band enthusiasts.

The band performs an annual subscription concert series in addition to national competitions and festivals, including the Rocky Mountain Brassworks Festival, the U.S. Masters Brass Band Championships, and the North American Brass Band Association Championships. The band performs a variety of styles, including: British brass band standards, contemporary work, jazz, Latin music and World Premiere’s.

Colorado Brass is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Youth brass weekend 2025

May 18, 2025 - The Colorado Brass hosted its first ever "Youth Brass Weekend," launching the foundation of the Colorado Brass Youth Program! The organization welcomed 45 of Colorado's top young musicians to the stage to play side-by-side with the members of the Colorado Brass. The students participated in a brass masterclass, sectionals with the band's principal players, and youth band rehearsals, and performed three pieces as a youth band on just 4 hours of rehearsal. Students included college and high school musicians. Music Director Brett Keating said, "The launching of the Colorado Brass Youth Program is a large milestone for the Colorado Brass. Our first ever Youth Brass Weekend signifies our organization's commitment to provide meaningful brass and percussion instruction to young musicians. These amazing students represent 14 different schools across the Front Range, and it is our goal to enhance the strong education these students receive from their school band directors and private teachers!"

NABBA 2025

April 5, 2025 - The Colorado Brass competed in the North American Brass Band Competition and was very pleased with their 4th place finish in the 1st Section! Of particular note, the group had the unanimous top scores awarded by the 3 judges for their choice piece performance. The band is excited to return to NABBA with ambitions to return to the podium in 2026!

April 4, 2025 - The Colorado Versatile Brass are pleased to announce their 4th podium finish in as many years, placing 2nd in the 10-Piece section of the NABBA competition! The consistently high placement of the ensemble is unmatched in the United States!

April 4, 2025 - The Colorado Brass Quintet has pulled off the incredible feat of placing 1st in the small ensemble section of the NABBA Championships for a second year in a row. They are described by 4 Bars Rest as, "one of North America's leading British style chamber forces," Colorado Brass President Keven Stewart said, "Winning any section at NABBA is incredibly difficult, and doing it twice in a row is ridiculously rare. The Colorado Brass Quintet has achieved this unusual feat and we are all so incredibly proud of them. Joe Smith's vision for the group is remarkable and the group's performance was exceptional!"

NABBA 2024

April 6, 2024 - Colorado Brass is pleased to announce their 3rd place finish in the 1st Section at the 2024 NABBA Competition! This is the band's second podium finish at the NABBA contest, having placed 2nd in the 1st section in 2023. The quality of brass bands in the USA continues to thrive with 39 large brass bands performing at NABBA this year. Music Director Dr. Brett M. Keating said, "I am proud of Colorado Brass this weekend. Happy to bring home 3rd place with two fantastic performances. Grateful to be part of a band with such a strong community. Wonderful people and incredible musicians. I learn so much from them. I. Love. This. Band."

April 5, 2024 - It's a 3-peat! Colorado Versatile Brass, a 10-piece sub group of Colorado Brass, was awarded 1st place championship honors in the NABBA 10-Piece competition for the 3rd time in a row. The CVB performed Keven Stewart's latest contest arrangement, Philip Sparke's celebrated work Endeavour, earning a highly unusual score of 99 points out of 100 for their performance. The piece takes its title from the name of the ship in which Captain James Cook circumnavigated the globe in an effort to find the mysterious ‘Terra Australis’, a large continental landmass that was believed to exist in the southern oceans. Arranger Keven Stewart said, "The musicians of the Colorado Versatile Brass are some of the best performers in our region. This work challenges the limits of everyone involved and under the guiding baton of Dr. Brett M. Keating, they brought the piece to life with their outstanding musicianship and impressive technical command."

April 5, 2024 - The newly formed Colorado Brass Quintet took the highly coveted 1st Place Award in the NABBA Small Ensemble Competition, performing a newly commissioned work by composer Key Poulan III entitled The Butterfly Effect. Cornet player Joe Smith put the group together and said, "As a first year member of the band, collaborating with four experienced musicians was a thrilling opportunity. Their commitment to the project, even before knowing the musical direction, was inspiring. Key's composition turned out to be a dynamic and engaging piece, and the quintet accomplished so much in just a month. This experience was incredibly educational, and it was encouraging to join a group so dedicated to exploring contemporary quintet compositions and supporting new works. I can’t wait to do it again next year with this group."

US Masters 2023

November 11, 2023 - The Colorado Brass took 2nd place in the 2023 US Masters Competition! This is the 2nd time in a row that the band won the competition's 2nd place award. With a significant overall increase in score from the previous year, the band was just 1 point from the 1st place award. In addition to placing 2nd overall, the band was awarded the "Most Entertaining Performance" trophy and one trophies for Best New Arrangement (Ben Justis) and Best Soloist (Ben Justis).

NABBA 2023

April 22, 2023 - Colorado Brass is pleased to announce their 2nd place finish in the 1st Section at the 2023 NABBA Competition! This is the band's first podium finish at the NABBA contest. The brass band website 4barsrest.com reviewed the contest, describing the CB's performance: "There was also a highly encouraging best ever finish for Colorado Brass in coming runner-up — thanks to a free flowing account of their own-choice selection of 'Devil and the Deep Blue Sea', ahead of Dublin Silver." With 37 large brass bands performing at NABBA this year, the competition quality was at an all time high.

April 21, 2023 - For the 2nd year in a row, Colorado Versatile Brass, a 10-piece sub group of Colorado Brass, was awarded 1st place honors in the NABBA 10-Piece competition. The CVB performed Keven Stewart's latest 10-piece contest arrangement of Thomas Doss' work Toccata e Fantastia, a soloistic and powerful piece for 10 piece brass ensemble.