The six-member brass Metro Jackson ensemble Capital Brass will continue a 20-plus years tradition next week when they perform at the St. Paul’s Music Series’ annual Christmas Concert.

“This concert will feature beautiful Christmas music played by talented musicians from the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra,” said David Benson, chairman of the Music Series board.

The free concert is set for Thursday, Dec. 13, at 12:05 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1116 23rd Ave., in downtown Meridian. Songs to be featured in the concert include “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Christmas Carol Festival,” “Silent Night,” “Celtic Carol,” “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” ”Little Drummer Boy/Pat-A-Pan,” “Carol of the Bells,” “Da die Zeit erfüllet war,” “Santa Baby,” “Let It Snow!” “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and the holiday favorite “Jingle Bells.”    

According to music historians, the brilliance and sonority of brass has captivated listeners for centuries. Early brass instruments announced royalty, and played hunting and military signals. Later they were employed in orchestras and brass bands; but not until the 1940s did the modern brass quintet join the ranks of standard chamber ensembles.

Founded in 1981, Capital Brass fosters the appreciation of brass chamber music through performances that are educational and entertaining. The ensemble brings to life a diverse repertoire encompassing music from Renaissance to modern jazz and beyond, including works recently composed specifically for Capital Brass. All six players are professional musicians and educators and members of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. In addition to concerts, Capital Brass gives school informances and master classes, and provides music for ceremonies and celebrations.

To the standard quintet instrumentation of two trumpets, horn, trombone, and tuba, percussion is a natural complement and adds to the group’s versatility. In certain pieces, alphorn, euphonium, cornets, fluegelhorns and piccolo trumpets also provide dramatic and intriguing changes in timbre. The result is performances which appeal to and enlighten listeners of all ages and musical tastes.

Capital Brass members are:

Robert Cheesman, trumpet, has a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master’s degree in Trumpet performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. Presently a member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Bob has not only played with symphonies throughout the South but has done recording work in Dallas, Atlanta and Memphis, and has free-lanced extensively with many well-known entertainers. Bob has done clinics and teaching throughout Western and Central Canada and the U.S. and is presently Jazz Band Director, Instructor of High Brass, and Chair of the Department of Music at Hinds Community College.

Wayne Linehan, trumpet, has a Bachelor of Music degree in Education from the State University College at Fredonia, New York, and a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He has been an extra with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Trumpet in the Buffalo Pops Orchestra, played lead with both Johnny Mathis and the New York production of Camelot with Richard Harris. He is currently Second Trumpet in the Mississippi Symphony and Mississippi Opera Orchestras, and a member of the MSO Brass Quintet. Since moving to Jackson Wayne has been an active freelance performer working with, among others, the Meridian Symphony, the Alabama Symphony, the Temptations, Ray Charles, and The Manhattan Men. He is also the Music Director and Conductor of the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, has taught at Hinds Community College, Millsaps College, and is currently an adjunct professor of music at Mississippi College.

Mimi Draut Linehan is Principal Horn with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and a member of the MSO Wind Quintet. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Mimi studied with organist/composer Harald Rohlig, and with hornist Dennis Behm while majoring in Music Performance at the University of Southern Mississippi. She performs locally with Capital Brass, Mississippi Opera and the Meridian Symphony, and teaches horn at Mississippi College. She has performed as soloist with the New Orleans Philharmonic, the Mississippi Symphony and the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra. An active traveling musician, Mimi has performed with the Alabama, Memphis, Charleston (SC), Columbus (GA) and Atlanta Symphony Orchestras, working with such conductors as Marin Alsop, Joann Falletta, Donald Runnicles, Gisele Ben-dor and Robert Spano.

Ken Lyon, trombone, earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was a featured Euphonium soloist with the USM bands. During that time he also performed in concert at the T.U.B.A. International Symposium at North Texas State University. Ken currently plays Bass Trombone with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and is active in the Jackson area as a free-lance trombonist.

Wade Rackley has performed with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra as Principal Tubist since 1993. He attended the University of North Texas for five years as a music major on GI Bill benefits earned as a member of the US Army Band of New York City. He repairs and customizes musical instruments, teaches private lessons on many instruments and arranges music for brass quintet. He has taught at Mississippi State University and Millsaps College in years past. He has studied regularly with Don Little, Arnold Jacobs and Pete Kline, and has taken lessons from Don Harry, Steve Johns and Mike Sanders. Rackley joined Capital Brass in 2005.

Sherwood “Bud” Berthold has been the Principal Timpanist of the Mississippi Symphony and Mississippi Opera Orchestras since 1981. He holds both Masters and Bachelors degrees in Music Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City where he studied with Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Timpanist Fred D. Hinger and New York Philharmonic Principal Percussionist Walter Rosenberger. Along with his duties as applied instructor at Hinds Community College, he teaches at Alcorn State University, Mississippi College, Jackson State University and in his home studio. Bud is also an experienced touring performer and clinician, and is very much in demand as a freelance artist and studio musician throughout the South.