The Ohio University Southern Community Band, under the direction of Dr. Pat McCoy, and the Brass Band of the Tri-State, directed by Chip Gue, will perform a Christmas concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Ohio University Southern Riffe Center Mains Rotunda.

The Community Band will perform traditional Christmas music arranged for concert band while the BBTS will perform seasonal music arranged specifically for brass band. Guest performers include OUS students Tonda Dew, voice, and Becky Johnson, piano.

The Brass Band of the Tri-State derives its members from Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia and includes music educators, high and college students, professionals in all fields and retirees.

The band provides an outlet for serious amateur brass and percussion musicians.

Although brass instruments can be traced back to the 14th century, during the 1880s brass band music gained the reputation for being “The Working Man’s Music.”

In addition to Christmas music, the music performed by BBTS includes original compositions for brass band, transcriptions of orchestral music, and arrangements written for symphonic and concert band.

The more difficult original works often push brass playing to its limits and demonstrate the tremendous agility of the brass instrument family.

The group performs transcriptions for brass band including music from major works such as Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite, “Shostakovich’s “Symphony #5,” music from Broadway, television and movies, and the standard collection of great marches and popular music.

Visit Tri-State Brass on-line at www.tri-statebrass.com for additional information.

The Ohio University Southern Community Band consists of approximately 15 students and non-students from the greater Tri-State area. The ensemble performs several times a year both on and off campus.

In addition to music for the holiday season, the band’s repertoire also includes music representing a variety of styles and genres including patriotic, Irish, and pops.

The concert is free and open to the public.