Class Got Brass Show
It's an overload of your senses. It's loud, all over the place, dancing, food, music - everything this city is. Then the performances start. Huge crowd. Big cheers. Kids, smiling and proud.
It wasn’t until after I saw Class Got Brass for the first time that I found out the event's goal, to keep the brass band tradition alive and get it back into the schools. I knew immediately that this was one of the most important events in the city. Culturally and musically it's energetic, magical, appropriate, and so on the pulse. But what really interests me are the moments just before or just after a performance. I love the exhilaration of finally doing the work you practiced so hard to accomplish. The raw nerves, the warmup, seeing students steel their hearts, get ready and go.
I hope you enjoy the show. I sure did.
I believe you’re an ambassador to your time and place if you choose to take photos. You have a duty to show the world you see in the light you want it portrayed. I choose to showcase the amazing human spirit that exists here against all odds.
-Eli Mergel
Sound
Students practice under the Municipal Auditorium shelter before the 2014 Class Got Brass competition.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Tiles
Students play a dirge on the way into the 2014 Class Got Brass competition.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Fired Up
Students await their turn for the 2014 Class Got Brass competition.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Ready
Students and the band director await their turn for the 2014 Class Got Brass competition.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Lean Back
the Grand Marshall for the Chalmette High School band leans way back on the way from the stage to wait for results.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationLousianaMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAUSAVoigtlander 15mmclass got brass showpick
Play for the crowd
Students from the Chalmette High School band play on the way out their performance.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Trombone
Joseph S. Clark High School playing after their performance.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Grand Marshalls
Grand Marshals from Landry Walker High School smile after an awesome performance at the 2014 Class Got Brass Competition.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
St Augustine
St Augustine ends strong after their 2014 performance.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Dancing
St Augustine celebrating and cutting up after the performance.
class got brasscongo squareCONGO SQUARE NEW WORLD RHYTHMS FESTIVALJazz and heritage foundationMarchNew OrleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationNew world rhythms festivalNOLAvoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
No Title
Students warm up for the Class Got Brass competition.
Blow
A Student From Landry - Walker High School warms up.
Encourage
Students and family prepare for the 2015 Class Got Brass competition.
Dance
Students rejoice and listen to other bands perform.
Play it Out
Students play through the crowd after the performance.
Fire
Students warm up for the Class Got Brass competition.
No Title
Students warm up for the 2015 Class Got Brass competition.
Face Off
Students all over Armstrong park play with, for, and against each other before, during, and after the Class Got Brass Competition.
Pep Talk
Students receive a pep talk before the 2016 Class Got Brass competition.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Ground Rules
Students receive the order in which they will play, and the Ground rules before the start of the show.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Determined
The students of Dolores T. Aaron Middle School prepare to perform at the 2016 Class Got Brass competition.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmportfolioclass got brass show
Get it
The students of Dolores T. Aaron Middle School prepare to perform at the 2016 Class Got Brass competition.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
No Title
Students from Langston Hughes Academy warm up for the Class Got Brass competition.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Ready
Students from Dolores T. Aaron Middle School are escorted by Dancing Man 504 to the starting point.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Dirge
Dolores T. Aaron Middle School plays a dirge on the way to the stage.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Steppin
A Grand Marshall dances and steps it out after the performance.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Shine
The students of Dolores T. Aaron Middle School play for the crowd after the performance.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show
Splits
During competition, this Grand Marshall took off his shoes and wowed the crowd with his dancing skills.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmportfolioclass got brass show
Tilt
The Grand Marshall for this class flips his hat off and hits some high knees on the way out.
2016bwblack and whitebrass bandcongo squareclass got brasseventJazz and heritage foundationnew orleansNew Orleans Jazz Heritage FoundationneworleansNOLAnolalovesecond linevoigtlander 15mmclass got brass show