About Us

History

In 2013, a group of brass and percussion students from California State University, Long Beach started rehearsing and performing concerts in the Long Beach area. Their goal was to create a high-level ensemble that the members would be able to continue to perform following the completion of their studies. After a successful first year of performances, and building a supportive following of audience members, the group’s aspirations expanded and they became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2014.

From 2014-2017, True Brass Choir provided a full concert season of themed-performances, holiday concerts, and new and original brass ensemble repertoire. The ensemble commissioned and premiered multiple works for brass ensemble, including Casey Martin’s Symphony No. 1 “Ocean”, a monumental composition premiered at Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific in 2015. The ensemble built partnerships with Long Beach organizations, institutions, and businesses including the City of Long Beach, the First Congregational Church of Long Beach, and the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Through our commitment to providing educational opportunities for our community, we developed our summer Master Class Seminar which provided learning opportunities in performance and leadership for woodwind, brass, and percussion students from local middle and high schools. In 2015, the ensemble applied to perform at the California All-State Music Education Conference in San Jose, CA. This conference, attended by music educators and honor band students from across the state, invites a select number of ensembles to perform for conference attendees. The ensemble was honored to be invited, and performed for a “full house” of music educators and students on February 6th, 2016.

In 2017, True Brass Choir began to expand its performances to include a chamber wind ensemble and a full wind band. As our artistic endeavors began to expand, the ensemble’s members and leadership also began to develop successful careers that would ultimately lead the group to significantly downsize its operations.

After a 4-year hiatus, True Brass Choir has now developed into a collective of woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians dedicated to a mission that places us into the 21st century. Embracing change, and wishing to be a harbinger for positive change in the art community and the Southern California community at-large, the ensemble is now known as the Catalyst Wind Collective:

The mission of the Catalyst Wind Collective is to provide access to musical artistry, inspiration, and service to the Southern California community through diverse programming, a diverse ensemble of artist-musicians, and thoughtful art that reflects the creativity of our beloved community.

Through our mission, the ensemble strives to build connections in the Southern California community that will leave a positive and lasting impact on everyone we’re fortunate to perform for.