ABOUT THE GATEWAYS BRASS COLLECTIVE
Since its inception in 2018, the Gateways Brass Collective has delivered dynamic performances and inspiring educational programs to audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
The members of the Gateways Brass Collective include Courtney Jones, DMA, and Herbert Smith, trumpet; Larry Williams, horn; Isrea Butler, DMA, trombone; and Jerome Stover, DMA, tuba.
An ensemble of the Gateways Music Festival, whose mission is to "support and connect professional classical musicians of African descent and enlighten and inspire communities through the power of performance," the Brass Collective maintains an active touring schedule presenting performances, master classes, demonstrations, clinics, and community engagement activities throughout the United States.
The Brass Collective has performed in concert halls and at clinics and festivals across the country including Midwest Clinic, Ravinia Festival, Rochester Fringe Festival, National Association of Music Merchants Show, Conn Selmer Institute, HBCU Band Director’s Consortium, Florida Atlantic University Brass Day, Buffalo State University, the Grammys in the Schools (GITS) festival, and the International Trombone Festival. In the 2023-24 season, the Brass Collective is set to perform in Rochester, NY; New York City; Chicago, IL; and Salt Lake City, UT, further expanding their reach and impact.
Members of the Gateways Brass Collective have performed with numerous distinguished orchestras such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Gateways Festival Orchestra, New World Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony.
Skilled in multiple genres, individual members have also collaborated with the Count Basie Big Band and Orchestra, the Cab Calloway Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band/Mingus Dynasty, David Byrne, Aretha Franklin, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Johnny Mathis, Bernadette Peters, Frank Sinatra, Arturo Sandoval, Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire, and many others. Their individual contributions have been featured on Netflix, the Lifetime Network, the CW network, and various movie soundtracks. Several members have been nominated for multiple GRAMMY Awards.
In addition to their regular participation in the Gateways Music Festival and maintaining active individual performance careers, members of the Brass Collective are dedicated educators who are passionate about music and committed to community and learning. Each member’s journey to the stage exemplifies perseverance, a deep love for the art form, and a commitment to helping others succeed in music. Brass Collective members currently serve on the faculties of The University of Nevada Las Vegas, Florida Atlantic University, Sam Houston State University, Howard University, and Washington Adventist University.
The Brass Collective enjoys a close relationship with the renowned instrument manufacturer Conn-Selmer and collaborates closely with Conn-Selmer’s education division to present innovative workshops aimed at supporting pre-professional musicians. Workshop topics include "How to Improve Your Practicing," "Learning to Improvise," and "Audition Success."
The Brass Collective strives to support diverse communities, encourages everyone to engage in the broader musical discourse, and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with artists from all backgrounds.