Arts & Entertainment Community

New Harbor Winds conductor debuts this month

Narrows Music Society’s Harbor Winds Ensemble will begin a new season in December with a new creative director and conductor, Mel Brazley. The first concert of the season will feature music from Cait Nishimura, Percey Grainger, Katahj Copley, Nubia Donjuan, and others. 

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Brazley has spent a decade teaching, performing and leading musicians. Their experience includes teaching middle school band students, and performing with South Sound Symphonic Band since 2017, as well as Formation Wind Band. Brazley currently teaches music at First Creek Middle School in Tacoma.

Mel Brazley is a middle school music teacher in Tacoma, and is also the new creative director and conductor for Narrows Music Society’s Harbor Winds Ensemble. Photo courtesy of Mel Brazley

“I grew up all over the place, and started learning saxophone in fifth grade band,” Brazley said. “Dad got a job in Roseburg, Oregon, and they have a marching band presence there, and I fell in love with that.”

Connecting with musicians

In the late 1990s, their musical taste ranged from pop punk emo to as Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child. Then Brazley got into jazz as a junior in high school. As an adult, Brazley said their music tastes have only widened, and includes whatever they hit randomly on Spotify.

This wide range of appreciation provides them with a way to connect with students. But Brazley said when they finished a mini conductor residency with Formation Wind Band, they were inspired to work with adults.

Mel Brazley has been hired as the new creative director and conductor for Narrows Music Society’s Harbor Winds Ensemble. Their first concert as a conductor will be on Dec. 15 at Peninsula High School. Photo courtesy of Mel Brazley

“I met all of these amazing humans and conductors and was inspired to push my conducting craft and continue to be a musician, but outside of just teaching,” they said. “I’m a teacher in every sense of the word. If I can get someone excited about playing music again, I’ve done my job. I listen to stories of people coming back to community band, so I’m excited to expand Harbor Winds, and bring people back who miss band.”

Harbor Winds

Harbor Winds began 11 years ago as a chance for local musicians to perform, and also provide support for music education in the middle and high schools, said Corey Berman, president of Narrows Music Society. Between 35 and 40 adults are part of Harbor Winds Ensemble. One of the three shows the group performs each year features young, local artists.

“We do an annual young artists concert as the middle one of the three concerts that we have,” Berman said. “That features high school and middle school soloists, and those that participate in local honors band.”

It’s a way to demonstrate to local youth musicians that music is a lifelong endeavor and they can participate way past their time in school, he said.

Harbor Winds Ensemble performs from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 15 in the auditorium of Peninsula High School. The concert is free, with a suggested donation at the door of $10. 

For more information visit narrowsmusicsociety.org.