Illinois Brass Band marks 35th anniversary with special concert at Aurora University

The Illinois Brass Band, led by music director Stephen Squires, invite the community to its 35th Anniversary Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, in the Crimi Auditorium on the campus of Aurora University, 1347 Prairie St. in Aurora.

Bruce Briney, the band’s first music director, will open the concert with Stephen Bulla’s “A Festive Prelude.” This was the very first piece that the band performed at their inaugural concert in 1991.

“Trittico” by composer James Curnow will be featured and represents the band’s first winning performance in the North American Brass Band Association’s annual championships in 1996.

There will be many other brass band favorites, old and new, on the program. They also will recognize past members of the ensemble as well as honoring those members who have passed.

The guest soloist for the afternoon will be Timothy Higgins, principal trombonist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He was appointed to that position at the beginning of the 2025-26 season. The band will accompany Higgins on the Gordon Langford “Rhapsody for Trombone and Brass Band” as well as the Philip Sparke’s “Sambezi” for Trombone and Brass Band. These tour de force selections will showcase Higgins mastery of the trombone.

Crimi Auditorium is a stunning and intimate concert hall with limited seating, so get your tickets early. Tickets are $25, $15 for age 18 or younger and college students with current ID.

Advance tickets are available via illinoisbrassband.org. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door on the day of the performance.

The 30-member Illinois Brass Band was founded in 1991 as a British style brass band by George Foster and the honorable William Homer. The band regularly performs between 18 to 22 performances annually including formal concerts, parades, church services, summer concerts for local municipalities, park districts, museums, and libraries.

The band regularly participates in the North American Brass Band Association’s annual championships. The 30 volunteer musicians come from throughout the greater Chicago area, from Zion on the north to Frankfort on the south and east from Chicago to Elburn and Genoa in the western reaches. Band members are required to audition annually. The band is a recognized 501(c)3 organization and is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.