Around the horns

Students will get the chance to toot their own horns alongside professional brass players Saturday when the Crescenta Valley Arts Council presents its first Brass Bash concert.

It’s a rare opportunity for student musicians from La Crescenta and other area schools to team up with professionals from chamber and symphony orchestras, said Sharon Hales, who co-directs the arts council with Richard Toyon and Evan Wilson.

“The purpose of the concert is to have professional horn players in the area put on a concert but, in addition, mentor youth players from the area,” she said. “We have middle school students from Crescenta Valley and outside the area, and university students.”

More than 20 professionals and 40 students — who play trumpets, French horns, trombones and tubas — will perform, said event creator Rob McGregor, a member of the council’s board of advisors and a professional musician.

Professionals from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the recording studios, and teachers from USC, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Northridge, Caltech and others will perform, he said.

Middle school players will come from La Crescenta, Glendale and Rancho Palos Verdes. High school musicians will come from Glendale, Long Beach and Santa Monica, and college brass ensembles from USC, UCLA and Cal State Long Beach will perform, McGregor said.

Through the event, McGregor hopes students will see how approachable professionals can be.

“The students hardly ever get to hear professional players close up, and they are in awe — they don’t realize they can go up and ask them a question,” he said.

There is a natural barrier between musicians and the audience, he said.

“Students don’t realize there is a progression,” he said. “Each professional was a beginner at one point. Then when they see the college people, it just adds to their comfort and ability to be attracted to that activity and a feeling they belong there too.”

Among the student performers in the concert are brothers Colin and Liam Wilt, who attend Rosemont Middle School.

Colin, 14, who plays euphonium, said he is looking forward to the experience.