The Aurora Brass Quintet (ABQ) is based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota and was formed in 1993 to explore the brass quintet setting. After a successful run on the wedding circuit, the Aurora Brass Quintet began performing a regular concert season, and by 1999 were the Artists in Residence at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Minneapolis. The Aurora Brass Chamber Music Association (ABCMA) was formed shortly thereafter in 2002 and continues to support the efforts of the quintet. In 2002 the ABQ performed in Orchestra Hall (performing space of the Minnesota Orchestra in downtown Minneapolis) for the opening of the 6th World Choral Symposium. In the summer of 2003 the quintet performed for the 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church. And in February of 2004, the ABQ were featured artists with the Mankato Symphony Orchestra.
The Aurora Brass Quintet is the core performing vehicle of the ABCMA. The mission of the ABCMA is to promote the advancement, awareness and appreciation for and creation of brass chamber music. Goals of the ABCMA include entertaining audiences with live performances of exciting brass chamber music, mentoring student musicians through educational outreach programs, preserving music with recordings of brass chamber music, and expanding the repertoire of brass chamber music through commissions of emerging and established composers. The ABCMA has reached these goals through a Mini Residency with the American Brass Quintet, held in October of 2005, a four concert season for the ABQ as well as several commissions. The most recent commission is a piece for brass quintet and organ by Jerome Commissioning Grant composer Heath Mathews (to be premiered in May of 2008).
