ROCHESTER — Nazareth University’s 2025 Changemakers Series presents “An Evening with Brass Queens,” a nine-piece brass band whose sound is deeply inspired by the music of New Orleans mixed with the flair of modern pop. The electrifying ensemble takes the Beston Hall stage in the Glazer Music Performance Center, 4245 East Ave., at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7.
Brass Queens is a female-led, New York-based brass band that has been dominating the brass band scene since 2019. Finding that they shared similar frustrations about the emerging brass band scene in New York City, co-founders Alex Harris and Ally Chapel came together to form a group dedicated to showcasing the talents of female musicians in a landscape that was dominated by male musicians and bandleaders. After debuting in March 2019, Brass Queens grew to be a fixture in the local music scene and was dubbed “the hardest working band in town” by their peers. The Queens gained a dedicated following through outdoor performances on the streets of Brooklyn and playing pop-up events in their community through the pandemic.
The band has developed a signature style that sits right at the intersection of the Big Apple and the Big Easy. Their sound is deeply inspired by and pays homage to the New Orleans brass band tradition while injecting the upbeat, multifaceted energy of their New York home into each performance. The result is a nonstop party: a Brass Queens show will have you singing along to classic pop hits, dancing your heart out to reggaeton, and feeling like you’ve been transported to the French Quarter.
“This is a royal opportunity to experience sublime second-line rhythms and breathtaking brass arrangements,” noted Nazareth’s Arts Center Managing Director Kevin Schoonover. “And with Mardi Gras still fresh in the rearview, Beston Hall’s incredible acoustics will truly showcase the regal power and glorious versatility of the brass family.”
In 2021, Brass Queens released their debut EP “Royal Street,” which takes listeners on a six-song journey beginning in the heart of New York City with a cover of Cameo’s “Candy,” down to Royal St. with their take on a New Orleans traditional, “Little Liza Jane.” In 2023, the band released their first full-length album titled “Black & Gold,” which is an ode to the Brass Queen’s incredible early fanbase who supported the band from the virtual performances and socially-distanced street corners during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the crowded clubs and packed venues of today. Less than a year later, Brass Queens released their second full-length album and their first album of all-original music titled “Hot Tub Sessions Vol. I.”
Brass Queens regularly tour across the country and internationally, appearing on festival stages including the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Northlands Music Festival, MusikFest, and Duck Jazz Festival, and multiple appearances at Governor’s Ball Music Festival and Exit Zero Jazz Festival. They have performed on national television on Good Morning America, atChanel No. 5’s 125th anniversary, and had multiple shows at iconic New York venues like The Capitol Theater, Blue Note Jazz Club, and Brooklyn Bowl. They have also played major events like The Met Gala and David Byrne’s “Amazing Humans Doing Amazing Things!” Variety Show, and for notable clients including Saks Fifth Avenue, Tiffany & Co., Perrier, Facebook, and Instagram.
Reserved seated tickets to “An Evening with Brass Queens” are $20 to $40 and are available online at naz.edu/artscenter/tickets or through the box office at 585-389-2180 or boxoffice@naz.edu. Nazareth students are admitted free of charge.
The performance is presented in cooperation with Nazareth University’s School of Music where the group will be in residence the day before the concert.
Nazareth’s Visual, Performing Arts & Design’s Changemakers Series spotlights artists and performers that have made significant and lasting contributions to their fields, redefining or reimagining their particular art form. The final offering in the 2025 series takes place a week later with the cello and piano duo of Annie Jacobs-Perkins and Katelyn Vahala on March 13.
More information about Nazareth University’s Arts Center and its programs can be found at artscenter.naz.edu.
