THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
HODGSON CONCERT HALL
Rhapsody on St Denio
Libertango
Hymn for Diana
Largo al Factotum
The Liberator
Brilliant Brushstrokes
Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
UGA Performing Arts Center
University of Georgia British Brass Band
Gilbert P. Villagrana, Bandmaster
PROGRAM
Adriano Estraiotto, Flugelhorn
James Cheyne
Astor Piazzolla arr. Dan Price
Joseph Turrin
Gioachino Rossini arr. Stephen Roberts
Matthew Shipes, Tuba
INTERMISSION
George Marshall
Ryan Lindveit
Helter-Skelter
Adoration
Bohemian Rhapsody
World Premiere
David MacPherson, Xylophone
Walter G. Lemon
Florence Price arr. Andrew Wainwright
Will Tomaszewski, Trumpet
Queen arr. Alan Catherall
Gilbert
P. Villagrana, Bandmaster
Soprano Cornet
Tim Jackson
Principal Cornet
Will Tomaszewski
Solo Cornet
Toby Johnson
Will Cuneo
Antonio Urias
Jack Rozza
Repiano Cornet
Cameran Butryn
Second Cornet
Luke Barrett
Ben Githanga
Third Cornet
Tristan Pope
Matthew Young
Flugel Horn
Adriano Estraiotto
Solo Horn
Jonah Hammett
Dakota Meeks
First Horn
Ian Welch
Second Horn
Daniel Alford
First Baritone
Kara Thaxton
Second Baritone
Ava Rogers
First Trombone
Ian Wolff
Juwann Murphy
Second Trombone
José Vasquez
Bass Trombone
Victor Guevara
Solo Euphonium
Jared Barry
Euphonium
Andrew Haynes
Eb Tuba
Hunter Kane
Jack Gordon
Bb Tuba
Jack Neja
Charlie Pratt
Percussion
David MacPherson
Jack Sweeney
Angelica Wright
The “UGA British Brass Band” (UGABBB) was established in August 2014, coinciding with the appointment of Philip Smith as Prokasy Professor in the Arts to the trumpet faculty of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Members of the band are chosen through auditions each semester. Its instrumentation, which is standard for brass bands around the world, is…
• 1 Eb Soprano Cornet
• 10 Bb Cornets
• 1 Bb Flugelhorn
• 3-4 Eb Tenor (Alto) Horns
• 2 Bb English Baritones
• 3 Bb Tenor Trombones
• 1 Bass Trombone
• 2 Bb Euphoniums
• 2 Eb Basses
• 2 Bb Basses
• 3-4 Percussionists
Because of the conical nature of these brass instruments, the sound of the band is more lush and mellow than the typical orchestral brass ensemble. The exception is the trombone section, which acts as the “trumpet sound” of the band. With these attributes, the brass band can play from the most intimate to the most dynamic and vibrant of colors.
In its short history, the UGABBB has quickly become a favorite of audiences of all ages. The band performs an annual Fall and Spring Festival on campus and has performed numerous times in the Athens/Atlanta area. Performances have included the 2023 Inauguration of Governor Brian Kemp, UGA Holiday Concerts, Chick-fil-A Christmas Open House, UGA Performing Arts Center’s Saturday Morning Club, and UGA JanFest. The band has also performed at the Oconee County Civic Center, and in concert series at the Milledge Avenue Baptist Church in Athens and Gainesville First United Methodist Church. The UGABBB has also performed in a joint concert with the prestigious Salvation Army Southern Staff Band. The band embarks on occasional weekend trips to bring the joy of banding to others.
The UGABBB has competed at the North American Brass Band Association competition in 2017, scoring a Third Place standing in the First Division, and in 2022. Performing guests have included David Childs, Euphonium; Sheona White, Tenor Horn; Joseph Alessi, Principal Trombone, NY Philharmonic; Stuart Stephenson, Principal Trumpet, Dallas Symphony Orchestra; James Scott, Principal Trombone, Calgary Philharmonic; Joseph Turrin, pianist and composer; David Zerkel, Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, University of Michigan; and UGA Professors Joshua Bynum, Brandon Craswell, Jean Martin-Williams, James Naigus, and Matthew Shipes. The band also regularly features its own soloists from within the band.
Gilbert P. Villagrana, a conductor, trumpeter, and educator from El Paso, TX, currently serves as a Limited-Term Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Conductor of the British Brass Band at the University of Georgia. He is also pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting at UGA, where he previously served as a Doctoral Conducting Associate with the UGA Bands. He earned his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance under Philip A. Smith at UGA and his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Texas.
Prior to his graduate studies, Villagrana served in the United States Marine Corps with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC, performing as a trumpet instrumentalist, principal trumpet, brass quintet leader, and assistant enlisted conductor. He is also the first-call substitute trumpet with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra and has performed with ensembles including the Quantico Marine Corps Band, in addition to being a multi-year finalist in the National Trumpet Competition.
As an educator, Villagrana has taught conducting at UGA, contributed to the Community Music School, and worked with young musicians through UGA’s Summer Music Camps. He has served on staff with the Redcoat Marching Band, where he helped shape both musical and visual instruction, and has maintained a private teaching studio while working as a clinician across Georgia, Texas, and the Carolinas. Since 2017, he has been a brass technician with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, contributing to multiple Jim Ott Brass Caption Awards while mentoring hundreds of performers. His primary teachers include Dr. Nicholas E. Williams, Philip A. Smith, Christopher Martin, Allen Vizzutti, Dr. Jason Bergman, and John Holt.
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