One of the artistic joys in my life is playing cornet in the Natural State Brass Band, an award-winning brass band in the British tradition. I’ve been a member of the band for about five and a half years, and have seen the band grow tremendously in musical quality and depth—and as a result, I’ve grown as well. Without a doubt, joining NSBB is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself as a musician.

Yesterday, NSBB was honored as the “Arkansan of the Week” by Little Rock TV station KATV, in recognition of the band’s recent victory, taking first place honors in the Challenge division at the 2009 North American Brass Band Association Championships.

Check out this video from yesterday’s KATV 5PM newscast. If you watch carefully, you might just spot my smiling face and shiny head in the back row of the cornet section.

Interested in attending an NSBB concert? We’re playing tomorrow afternoon at 4PM at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, 4823 Woodlawn Drive in Little Rock. Admission to this concert is free, so come on out and enjoy a great program from a band that’s done Arkansas proud!