Brass Quest is a forum to share our love for playing, teaching, and learning music. Here we present our ideas, concepts, and explorations in performing and in educating the next generation of brass musicians. We have dedicated our lives to studying this craft and applying it in performance as soloists, chamber musicians, and orchestral performers. Our musical journeys have taken us across the world in a variety of situations; we've gathered our collective experience here for our fellow brass players and enthusiasts. We hope it's enjoyable and enlightening!
DeAunn Davis moved to Denver, Colorado to pursue performance after four years of teaching French horn at the University of Nevada, Reno. In addition to enjoying her near-decade as a member of the Boulder Philharmonic, DeAunn has also performed with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, the Fort Collins Symphony, and Opera Colorado. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at Colorado State University. DeAunn holds degrees from Northwestern University (BM), DePaul University (MM), and the University of Utah (DMA). While working in the Chicago-land area, DeAunn was a founding member of the critically-acclaimed chamber group Fifth House Ensemble, with whom she was an artist in residence at Yale University and the New England Conservatory. She has also performed with the Cabrillo Festival, the Honolulu and Utah Symphonies, and traveled to Haiti as an artist with the Ecole de Musique Sainte Trinité Woodwind Festival.
Adam Snider is the Principal Tuba of the Boise Philharmonic and Central City Opera Orchestras. He has previously held principal positions with the Honolulu, Lancaster Festival, and La Crosse Symphony Orchestras. Adam currently teaches at Metropolitan State University of Denver and maintains a robust studio of low brass students across the Intermountain West. He has served on faculty at Boise State University; University of Nevada, Reno; and University of Hawai`i-Mānoa.
Adam has performed and given master classes across the U.S. as well as in China, Japan, and Chile. He has also competed at the North American Brass Band Association Championships with the Chicago Brass Band and has played throughout the Chicagoland area with the rock band Black Umbrella Brigade. Interested in bringing to life the music of our time, Adam has founded and directed new music ensembles at University of Nevada, Reno and Western Michigan University; performed with the Chicago Composers Orchestra; and commissioned works from composers Miguel Chuaqui, Brian Kelly, Rudolf Rojahn, Karen Olson, Lachlan Fife, and Tim Chatwood.