College of Visual and Performing Arts

The JMU Brass Band and its director, Kevin J. Stees, were well represented in an article published in the "British Bandsman" in December 2006.

Katrina Marzella wrote "Discovering the JMU learning process" about her impressions of the band and the increasing interest in brass bands in the United States for the leading international brass band magazine. Marzella, the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist of the Year, visited JMU in early December and performed with the band in concert.

Marzella recounted the JMU Brass Band's establishment in 2000 and its award-winning status – the 2006 North American Brass Band Association Championship Section winner – in her article. "It seemed clear to me that, in its six-year history, the JMU Brass Band had really got its act together!" she wrote. "Credit for this undoubtedly passes to the committed and enthusiastic leadership of conductor, Kevin Stees."

Stees, who joined the JMU faculty in 1985, founded the JMU Brass Band. He is an active tuba soloist and a member of the Madison Brass, JMU's quintet-in-residence. Stees also directs the community Massanutten Brass Band.