DREW FENNELL (b. 1972) joined the River City Brass Band in 1998 as Assistant Principal Solo Cornet, and currently occupies the position of Principal Solo Flugelhorn. He solos very frequently with the ensemble, both as a flugelhorn/trumpet player and as a singer. He also worked as Associate Conductor of the ensemble for ten years, and has conducted the River City Youth Brass Band since 2005. He further performs with the River City 6, serves as Trumpet Instructor and as Conductor of the Wind Ensemble at the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College, and is Professor of Applied Trumpet at Grove City College (PA).
A 1994 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he studied with the inimitable Anthony Pasquarelli. After receiving his degree, he served as Principal Trumpet with the Butler, Altoona and Youngstown Symphonies, as well as a six-month appointment to the position of Second Trumpet with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, his solo playing has been heard locally and internationally in recital, and on International Public Radio. In addition to playing, he has built a solid reputation as a fine composer and arranger, and his works have been performed around the world.
Complementing well over one-hundred projects for the River City Brass Band (a dozen of which appear on various RCBB recordings) are arrangements for numerous other groups – bands, orchestras and chamber ensembles, as well as choral works. He was named “Composer of the Year” for the Butler Symphony Orchestra (PA) in its 2008-09 60th Anniversary Season. He is a 2006 inductee into the Ford City (PA) Area Hall of Fame. Surf to www.drewfennell.comfor more information.