First Japan Tour! Visiting the Seraph Brass Quintet Concert

Who is Seraph Brass?

Winner of the American Prize in Chamber Music, Seraph Brass is a premier all-female brass quintet highly acclaimed by music journals worldwide. As pioneers in a historically male-dominated brass world, they actively perform with stellar technique and expressive power, pulling from a dynamic roster of top musicians.

History of Seraph Brass

True to their name "Seraph" (meaning fiery angel), the ensemble balances fiery passion with angelic clarity. It was founded in 2014 by solo trumpeter Mary Elizabeth Bowden.

At the core of their mission is a dedication to demonstrating the superb talent and potential of female brass players, and to presenting underrepresented composers and artists. With a broad repertoire ranging from classical gems to popular tunes and modern commissions, they are recognized as a Yamaha Performing Group. This sponsorship provides them with instruments and support for their concerts. They actively tour throughout the US and on international stages.

Features of Seraph Brass

Pioneers of Change: They present the highest standards of artistry in a male-dominated scene, serving as role models for female players.
Outstanding Performance Level: Drawing top players from major American orchestras and music schools, Gramophone magazine has praised their "extraordinarily high level of performance."
Diverse Programming: From Puccini's opera *Turandot* to Gershwin's *Rhapsody in Blue* and Broadway medleys, their entertaining programs keep audiences fully engaged.

Member Introduction

Seraph Brass tours with a flexible roster. The members for this first Japan tour are:

Role / Name	Background
Trumpet Mary Elizabeth Bowden	A soloist who entered university at 14 and studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and Yale School of Music. She founded the ensemble to realize her dream while playing in various orchestras.
Trumpet Morgen Low	Graduate of Northwestern University and Oberlin Conservatory. 1st place in the 2022 Next Generation Trumpet Competition. Associate Principal of Sarasota Orchestra, New World Symphony Fellow, guest player for Indianapolis Symphony, and educator.
Trombone Lauren Casey-Clyde	Doctorate from University of Texas, Assistant Professor at Texas Lutheran University. Performed with Boston Symphony, and solo/sacbut recitals at IWBC, active in both academia and performance.
Horn Rayann Atieh	Graduate of Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and Cleveland Institute of Music. Active in Chicago, playing with Chicago Symphony and Civic Orchestra of Chicago.
Tuba Robin Black	Principal Tuba of Milwaukee Symphony at 18. Studied under Dave Kirk at Rice University. Winner of the 2018 U.S. Marine Band Concours and Falcone International Competition.

Concert Review

Although it was an evening concert starting at 7 PM and the quintet was virtually unknown in Japan, the venue was almost fully booked. The performance took place at Sumida Triphony Hall, a highly convenient large hall just a 1–2 minute walk from Kinshicho Station.

The acoustics of the hall were satisfying, allowing the sounds of the five instruments to resonate beautifully. The audience, though mostly seniors (including myself, nearing 60 w), had excellent manners, making it a very pleasant evening. The selection of short, well-known pieces made it perfect for classical beginners. Personally, I would rate it 70/100. Since the ticket was cheap, the cost-performance was great.

However, I felt the arrangements could have pushed the limits of a brass quintet further, and it was slightly disappointing that Morgen, the second trumpet, had a richer tone than the leader Mary. Having expected something like the legendary saxophone duo of Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt (though they play sax w), it fell a bit short. Still, the dynamic presence and acoustic depth of a live performance are something digital music cannot replicate, giving a heartfelt impact that outshines even the best recordings.