About the Billtown Brass

The Billtown Brass was formed in 2000 as an out-of-doors extension for the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. Since then, the group has become a local favorite known for eclectic programming that appeals to a broad audience. Repertoire is selected from British brass band standards as well as ballads, big band jazz, classical transcriptions, Broadway and Hollywood favorites, marches, and patriotic gems. The twenty-eight-member group is comprised of WSO section leaders as well as some of the best brass and percussion musicians from around the region.

The Billtown Brass is conducted by Rick Coulter, Supervisor of Music, Art, Physical Education and Health, Gifted, and the Freshman Academy for the Williamsport Area School District. Under Coulter's leadership, Williamsport has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Communities for Music Education in America, and the high school has been selected as a Grammy Signature School. Within the WSO organization, Coulter has served as a member of the trumpet section, conductor of the WSO at family concerts, music director of the Williamsport Symphony Youth Orchestra for twelve years, and a WSO board member for eighteen years. He is active as an arts advocate, clinician, consultant, teacher, performer, and conductor of the Billtown Brass.

Coulter has performance and music education degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied trumpet with Anthony Pasquarelli. His first exposure to brass band literature was in a Salvation Army youth ensemble in high school. While at CMU, he performed under the baton of the British composer Philip Catlinet (protégé of Ralph Vaughan Williams), where a regular challenge was to read the latest contest work that he had written for a competition in England. Coulter also performed in the “pit orchestra” for the famous television series, Mister Rogers Neighborhood.

upcoming concerts

Saturday, May 17, 7:30 pm
South Williamsport High School Auditorium
The WSO and the Salvation Army present The NY Staff Band and the Billtown Brass. More information here.