SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music Welcomes Guest Artists, Alumni & Students for 2026 Brass Summit
SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music is set to welcome guest artists, alumni educators and students for the inaugural 2026 Crane Brass Summit from Friday, Sept. 25 to Sunday, Sept. 27.
High school to adult musicians, music educators and brass enthusiasts are invited to join The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam for a weekend full of performances, exhibitors, panels, workshops, masterclasses and more. The world-renowned Seraph Brass will headline the Crane Brass Summit with a featured recital as part of the Community Performance Series Fall 2026 season, as well as engagement opportunities throughout the weekend.
“We are deeply excited to host Crane’s inaugural Brass Summit! We’re thrilled to welcome Seraph Brass, one of the world’s leading brass groups, to Crane, not only to perform, but to work directly with our students. Along with performances, panels, masterclasses, and exhibits featuring an incredible array of alumni, educators, and vendors, this weekend will showcase what makes Crane so special,” said Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Brass Area Coordinator Dr. Luke Spence. “We hope this is just the beginning of many more opportunities like this in the future. We want brass players of all ages throughout the North Country and surrounding areas to know that they don’t have to travel far to experience world-class performances and instruction. It’s right here at Crane!”
On Friday, Sept. 25, the Brass Summit will kick off with a free Crane Wind Ensemble concert, held in the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. The concert will feature Crane Concerto Competition winner Liam Yusko ’28 on tuba, as well as the Potsdam Brass Quintet. The concert is free, and will stream live online at potsdam.edu/cranelive.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, Crane brass faculty will lead warm-up classes for summit registrants starting at 9 a.m. Seraph Brass members will lead public trumpet, horn, trombone and tuba masterclasses with select Crane students at 10 a.m., followed by an open Q&A session. All are welcome to observe and learn from the guest artists at the masterclasses and Q&A session. An exhibit hall with brass vendors, including North Country Winds and S.E. Shires Co., will be open throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27.
Events will continue throughout the day, including a Crane Alumni Recital at 1 p.m. in the Sara M. Snell Music Theater. The recital will feature Crane School of Music graduates Julia Stowell ‘22 (trumpet), Joe Johnson ‘21 (horn), James Dissinger ‘06 (trombone) and Will Sutton ‘13 (euphonium).
At 2 p.m., Seraph Brass will lead an open coaching session for the Frackenpohl Honors Brass Quintet, Crane’s honors brass group, established through an endowment honoring the legacy of Arthur and Mary Ellen Frackenpohl. The ensemble members benefit from a financial award and diverse musical experiences throughout the year. Current members include Maddie Pisciotti ’28 (trumpet), Edward Karron ’28 (trumpet), Mackenzie Sweeney ’29 (horn), Victor Mainetti ’27 (trombone), and Liam Yusko ’28 (tuba).
The evening will wrap up with the marquee event, the Seraph Brass concert hosted in conjunction with Community Performance Series, at 7:30 p.m. in Sara M. Snell Music Theater. Tickets for the Seraph Brass concert and other upcoming CPS season events are now on sale, at www.cpspotsdam.org. Concert admission is included with registration for all Potsdam Brass Summit attendees.
On Sunday, Sept. 27, the day will kick off with a brass repair clinic for band directors led by Samson Flancbaum ’13 and masterclasses for visiting students led by Crane faculty, both held at 9 a.m.
A full brass ensemble reading session open to all registrants will be offered at 10 a.m. in Snell Theater. Crane School of Music Dean Andrew Mast will host a panel discussion with Crane alumni immediately afterward, at 11 a.m.
Following a lunch break, a mixed chamber recital featuring the Potsdam Brass Quintet and friends will be held at 1 p.m. A post-concert reception to close the summit will follow.
Tickets for the Crane Brass Summit are $34 for general admission and $17 for college students/youth ages 17 and younger. Discounts can be selected and applied through the checkout process online.
To register for the Crane Brass Summit, visit cpspotsdam.org/brass-summit. Please note that any students under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or teacher. The summit all access passes include registration for all summit events, including the Seraph Brass performance.
About The Crane School of Music:
Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York’s only All-Steinway institution and was one of the first Yamaha Institutions of Excellence. For more information, please visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.