Guest artists offering master classes to Blinn College music students

Axiom Brass and renowned singer Anton Belov each will hold sessions with students

November 18, 2021

Blinn College Music Department students will have the opportunity to learn from prominent visiting artists this month.

Axiom Brass will conduct a master class Thursday for instrumental students and award-winning vocal coach Anton Belov will work with choral and vocal students Monday, Oct. 18 through Wednesday, Oct. 20. Faculty members have selected students for both sessions, which will be held on the Brenham Campus.

“It is pretty neat to have guest artists like this coming to campus,” said Todd Quinlan, Performing Arts Department Head. “We have some of the most respected artists in their fields on our faculty, and this is an opportunity to enhance what we offer our students.”

Axiom Brass is an award-winning quintet. Quinlan said the class “is a collaboration” with Bryan-based Friends of Chamber Music. Dr. Kendall Prinz, Director of Blinn’s Brass Ensemble, said the group will provide valuable insight to students.

“One of the many things that we strive to provide for our brass ensemble members at Blinn is a diverse educational and performance experience,” said Prinz. “When the opportunity arose for them to perform for the Chicago-based Axiom Brass quintet, we jumped on the opportunity.

“Not only is this group an outstanding example of the brass quintet idiom, but there are a wide range of educational and performance experiences among the members of the ensemble. Being coached by the members of the group in a master class setting will add to the depth of our students’ ensemble experience and is an opportunity often only afforced to students and ensembles at larger universities.”

Jon Kratzer, Blinn Trumpet Professor and Jazz Director who also coaches the Brass Quintet, said, “Learning to play together and work in a chamber ensemble is an invaluable skillset for any budding young professional to experience. Having groups like Axiom Brass come to coach our students is a wonderful opportunity for them to gain diverse perspectives from other working professionals in our field.”

Belov will meet with students in the Diction for Singers class, rehearse a Russian liturgical piece with the Chamber Choir, lecture on the historical background of Russian music, hold a master class with students who will sing in Russian (for critiquing), and present a program on Russian musical literature.

“We are excited to have a world-class performer like Anton join us,” said Johnson. “This will be a truly game-changing experience for the students.”

Belov has presented more than 100 recitals throughout the United States at venues like Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. An associate professor of music at Linfield University in McMinnville, Ore., he has earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of diverse characters.

The Blinn College District Music Department offers small classes, one-on-one attention, practical learning, and accessible faculty members. For more information, visit www.blinn.edu/music.