Brown selected for virtual ensemble in honor of presidential inauguration

Velvet Brown, distinguished professor of music in tuba in the Penn State School of Music and lecturer at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, is one of 14 professional brass and percussion musicians from across the country chosen for Classical Movements’ Hope & Harmony Ensemble, which will virtually perform the "Inauguration Fanfares," streaming Tuesday, Jan. 19 at noon EST on the College of Arts and Architecture, School of Music and Center for the Performing Arts Facebook pages. The ensemble, conducted by Marin Alsop and conceived, produced and directed by Classical Movements, will perform “Fanfare for the Common Man” by Aaron Copland and “Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1” by Joan Tower in honor of the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. In its news release about the virtual performance, Classical Movements wrote: “We conceived this project to bring together a divided country through the power of music. Working as we do with the nation’s finest orchestras, we are uniquely placed to bring together these incredible musicians. During this terribly difficult time in the performing arts, we have gathered a virtual ensemble that otherwise would not have been able to exist but for technological advances.” The performance will be streamed simultaneously by Classical Movements, Penn State social media channels and social media channels representing the other performers’ institutions, with a combined digital footprint of more than 7.6 million and growing. For more information on Classical Movements, the Hope & Harmony Ensemble and “Inauguration Fanfares,” visit https://www.classicalmovements.com/fanfare/.