Brassworks to play classics, pops in Johnstown

The Johnstown Brassworks quintet will return July 16 to play classics and pops in a Tuesday noon recital at First Lutheran Church, 415 Vine St., Johnstown.

The quintet comprises five musicians who teach at area high schools and colleges. They not only have played previously in the recital series, but they also provide other programs, such as the Cambria County All-Stars Jazz Band.

A light lunch follows each program. There is no charge because the series depends heavily on volunteers and is pre-paid by contributions.

“We can offer these successfully because so many people support the series,” said George Fattman, chairman of the Tuesday Noon Recital Series.

Johnstown Brassworks was formed in 2014 and performs at recitals, weddings and church services throughout the region. They have performed concerts with some of their students at the Grand Hall in Cambria City. Members are:

• Joshua Brumbaugh, trombone, junior and senior high instrumental music teacher at Westmont Hilltop. He has a bachelor’s degree in music education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has performed in numerous ensembles, including the big band Jazz in Your Face, Johnstown Civic Band and the Johnstown Symphony.
• Jerrod Cannistraci, French horn, director of bands in the Richland School District. He holds a degree in music education and a master’s in educational psychology from IUP. Before joining the Richland faculty, he taught music at Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School, Altoona. He is the assistant director of the Johnstown Civic Concert Band and adjunct music instructor at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College.
• Jason June, tuba, a member of the music faculty at Penn Highlands Community College. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s in music technology from Duquesne University. He is a music and technology specialist for W.W. Norton & Co., a New York textbook publisher. He formerly was the band director at Somerset Area High School.
• Eric Pfeil, trumpet, music teacher at Greater Johnstown High School. He is a 2008 music education graduate of IUP.
• Rebekah Stombaugh, trumpet, director of bands in the Penn Cambria School District. She is a music education alumna of IUP and pursued a master’s degree in wind conducting at Messiah University, Mechanicsburg. She is a member of the Johnstown Civic Concert Band and the Altoona Community Band.