The Saint Louis Brass Quintet, known the world over for their nontraditional, often zany, performances of various styles of brass music, will present two programs in Berea College’s Phelps Stokes Chapel on Thursday, October 5. “Eclectic Brass” will be presented in two parts: at 3 p.m. an hour-long “informance” – a program to explain and demonstrate various genres of brass – and a full-length length concert at 8 p.m.

For their concert program, the quintet will perform the entire spectrum of great music for brass – from the works of today’s composers to Baroque and Renaissance music transcribed for modern instruments.

Both programs are part of the Stephenson Memorial Concert series for 2006-07 and are free and open to the public.

Founded in 1964, the Saint Louis Brass Quintet is one of the nation’s longest standing brass quintets. Originally formed by members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, trombonist Melvyn Jernigan is the only original member still playing with the ensemble - and is the only member from Saint Louis. The quintet’s other members hold top positions across the United States and are outstanding performers in their own right. Allan Dean, trumpet, is a professor of music at the Yale School of Music; Ray Sasaki, trumpet, is professor of music at the University of Texas at Austin; Thomas Bacon, horn, is a veteran soloist and recording artists; and Daniel Perantoni, tuba, is professor of music at Indiana University.

During the SLBQ’s more than 40 year history, the group has performed more than 2,700 full-length concerts, tours nationally and internationally and has made eight recordings. Over 75 new pieces have been written or arranged for the group.

For more on about the SLBQ, visit www.hornplanet.com/slbq. For information about other Stephenson Memorial Concerts and Berea College Convocations this year, visit www.berea.edu/convocations