Dublin Metro Brass

The Dublin Metro Brass is the most recent addition to the Dublin Community Bands family.  This ensemble was created to allow musicians the opportunity to experience the Brass Band world without the high intensity and full-year commitment of most competitive Bands.

The abbreviated rehearsal season runs from January through June each year, with the goal of competing and performing at events like the Dublin Festival of Brass, the North American Brass Band Association Championships, and the Ohio Brass Arts Festival.  Merging the "community band" and "competition band" experiences, Dublin Metro Brass is open to all interested musicians (no audition necessary), but will require a season-long commitment from its members to attend as many rehearsals as possible and practice regularly at home in order to effectively prepare for competitions.

Dublin Metro Brass is a British-style Brass Band, which differs from a traditional Concert Band or Wind Symphony in both group size and instrumentation. Brass Bands are smaller (~30 players), leaving parts more exposed than in a larger band setting (there may be only 2 or 3 musicians on each part, with opportunities to solo), and the instruments are limited to Soprano and Bb Cornet, Flugelhorn, Eb Tenor Horn, Baritone, Euphonium, Trombone, Eb and Bb Tuba, and Percussion.  (If you have experience with any brass instrument, you may be comfortable switching to learn a new part!)  Learn more about Brass Bands and instrumentation here.

For more information, please fill out the interest form or contact Katie Liddle with any questions.

William L. Ballenger, Director

William L. Ballenger is recently retired from the School of Music at The Ohio State University where he served as Professor of Music and Director of the School of Music. Previous academic/administrative appointments included thirteen years as Director of the School of Music at Texas Tech University, and twelve years as Department Head of Music at Oklahoma State University.

Professor Ballenger’s background is instrumental music, and his instrument is the trumpet. During his undergraduate days at the University of Iowa he played in nearly every available ensemble, from brass quintet to brass ensemble to symphonic band, marching band, and Orchestra.

Professor Ballenger was a trumpeter for the inaugural 20-member Disney All-American College Band, a program that has continued for 50 years.

His first collegiate appointment was the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he served as Associate Director of Bands and Director of the Cornhusker Marching Band. He also conducted the UNL Brass Ensemble and coached several brass quintets.

While at Oklahoma State University Professor Ballenger helped to re-establish the Stillwater Community Band, and was that ensemble’s conductor for 13 years.

Professor Ballenger has composed and arranged music for a great many bands, and has conducted many festival and honor bands in several states around the country.

From 2002 through 2012 Professor Ballenger served as a Bowl Games of America clinician/conductor at halftime Bowl games, including the Liberty Bowl, the Alamo Bowl, the Holiday Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Champs Sports Bowl, and the Sugar Bowl.

While at Texas Tech University, Professor Ballenger conducted three month-long summer musical productions of South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun, and Oklahoma.

Recent honors and awards include the William D. Kerns Award for the Performing Arts (2013) presented by Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts. In May 2017 the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents approved the renaming of the School of Music pipe organ. It is now officially renamed the “Great Ballenger Holtkamp Organ” (see article) Read news article at EverythingLubbock.com

Kevin Wallick, Assistant-Director

Kevin Wallick is in his ninth year teaching at Dublin Coffman High School. He is a 2010 graduate of The Ohio State University where he obtained a Bachelors degree in Music Education, and recently completed a Masters of Music in Music Education degree from Capital University. At Dublin Coffman High School, Kevin conducts the Chamber and Concert Orchestras, Pit Orchestra, the Emerald Band, assists with the marching band.  He also assists in teaching beginning band at Dublin Sells Middle School. Under his direction the Chamber Orchestra, Concert Orchestra, and Emerald Band have all consistently received high ratings at OMEA Adjudicated Events. Under his direction the DCHS Chamber Orchestra had the honor of been selected to perform at the 2018 OMEA Professional Conference. Outside of public school teaching Kevin is an active performer and maintains a small studio of private students, and has held the position of South-Central Region Chair for the Ohio Music Education Association.

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