Drew Fennell

Drew Fennell 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 acts as Associate Conductor of the ensemble, and as Conductor of the River City Youth Brass Band. He is a founding member of the River City 6.

A 1994 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, he studied with the inimitable Anthony Pasquarelli. Fennell performed extensively during this time, including several solo appearances with the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic. 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. Beginning in 2007, he joined the faculty at Grove City College (PA) as Professor of Applied Trumpet. 

In addition to playing, he has built a solid reputation as a fine composer and arranger. He has completed well over one-hundred projects for the River City Brass Band, a dozen of which appear on various RCBB recordings. He also created arrangements for numerous other groups, such as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale. His original compositions have been equally successful. As part of its Twentieth Anniversary Celebration, River City Brass Band commissioned Drew Fennell to compose a new piece for the band. "Hometown Miniatures," an evocative musical depiction of life in a small town, has met with universally positive reviews, and is finding its way onto recommended repertoire lists and multiple high school honors band performances. Among other works of his, it can be heard on 'Polished Brass,' RCBB's most recent recording (2002). In 2003, he was commissioned, by Matthew Murchison, to compose a solo piece for euphonium and piano. After being premiered by the RCBB in a version for brass band, "Prescott Poem" was recorded by Mr. Murchison and released on the album 'Everyone But Me' (on the Mulholland Records label). More recently, he composed a three-movement "Concerto" (in honor of Anthony Pasquarelli) for solo trumpet and orchestra. He conducted the premiere in 2004, with the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic Orchestra, and David Gedris, trumpet soloist. One month later, RCBB premiered "The Oval Office" which features narration (created by Denis Colwell and Lanny Frattare) culled from United States Presidential speeches over the last two-hundred years. Lanny Frattare also narrated the performances. On Veterans Day, 2006, "Arlington Anthem" was premiered by the Enloe High School Band in Raleigh, NC. His newest piece, "El Capitan" (so named for the granite rock formation in Yosemite National Park), was premiered by the Wantagh High School Wind Ensemble (NY) on December, 20th, 2007. The Butler Symphony Orchestra has named Drew Fennell "Composer of the Year" for its 2008-09 60th Anniversary Season. The orchestra will feature several existing works as well as a brand new work to be premiered in April, 2009. Other upcoming projects include a new choral piece for Craig Cannon and the Fox Chapel High School Choir (May, 2008), and a new commission to celebrate Pittsburgh's 250th Anniversary for the River City Brass Band (November, 2008).

Fennell is also in demand as a guest conductor. He has been guest conductor at a number of high school honors bands in Western Pennsylvania, and was engaged to conduct the Salt River Brass for performances in May of 2004. 

Recently, Fennell self-produced two recordings. 'La Réjouissance' (from 1999) features trumpet and organ works from the Baroque Era; it is a joint venture with good friend and RCBB Principal Eb Soprano Cornetist, David Gedris. In 2001, he arranged, composed and conducted all the music for his wedding, which he recorded on a compact disc entitled 'My Whole Heart.' 

In 2004, along with his wife, Krista, he founded the Trinity Concert Series, a successful recital series, held in their church, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Freeport, PA. 2008 will mark the fifth anniversary of the recital series.

Additionally, he works as producer and editing consultant for various recording projects.

Drew is a 2006 inductee into the Ford City (PA) Area Hall of Fame. 

To learn more about Drew and his music, visit his website: "www.drewfennell.com."