Old Bay Brass, a Baltimore Brass Quintet

Old Bay Brass is a quintet formed of musicians from all over the country who met at the Peabody Conservatory. The members of OBB have performed in many professional ensembles including the National Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Detroit Chamber Winds, the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, Waco Symphony Orchestra, and Pueblo Symphony in Colorado. The quintet members have performed and taught in music festivals around the world such as Pierre Monteux (Maine), Brevard Music Festival (North Carolina), Cleveland Trombone Seminar (Ohio), Miami Music Festival (Florida), the International Music Festival (Italy), and the National Trumpet Competition, where 1st and 3rd prize were claimed in the ensemble division.

OBB has been dedicated to music education and community outreach. Each member is an avid educator in the form of private lessons, group coachings, and masterclasses, and has worked with organizations such as the Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony ORCHkids program, the Maryland Wind Festival, and the Round Top Festival in Texas.

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MEDIA

Highland Cathedral, Old Bay Brass

00:00 / 03:18

What a Wonderful World, Old Bay Brass

00:00 / 03:39

PERSONNEL

Jason Thomas Aylward,
Trumpet

Hailed by Patron magazine as a “Musician for all seasons,” Jason Thomas Aylward is dedicated to providing an engaging performance that reaches across musical genres using a wide range of performance media. As a soloist, he has been featured throughout the country with various programs ranging from French Impressionist works, to evenings of jazz and pop music backed by studio orchestra.

As an orchestral musician, Jason has performed with the Orlando Philharmonic, the Midland Symphony, the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, the Two Rivers Chamber Orchestra, the Detroit Chamber Winds, the Maryland Winds, the Round Top Festival Orchestra and the Pierre Monteux Festival Orchestra. His past teachers include Neil Mueller and Peter Knudsvig, Joe Burgstaller, and Marie Speziale. He holds degrees from Concordia College, (Moorhead, MN), Central Michigan University, and the Peabody Conservatory.

An active chamber musician, Jason is a founding member and arranges for Old Bay Brass. Previously he's performed frequently at Disney World, as well as formerly with chamber groups with such as the Detroit Winds, and the Central Michigan University Faculty Brass quintet. Jason is currently the professor of trumpet and Director of Bands and Orchestra at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.

David Sayers,
Trumpet

A seasoned musician with a career spanning two decades, David Sayers is a trumpeter known for his rich variety of musical colors and versatility. David honed his skills at Baylor University and the prestigious Peabody Conservatory.

David has served with many ensembles, including the world-renowned Fountain City Brass Band, Old Bay Brass Quintet, Johnstown Symphony, Georgia Brass Band, Tara Winds, Finger Roll Band, Rome Symphony, Georgia Symphony, Round Rock Symphony, Waco Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, Brevard Symphony, Brazos River Brass Quintet, and the St. Edwards Drama Company.

His list of accolades includes numerous awards for outstanding solo, chamber, and ensemble performances, both in the United States and on the international stage. Such conferences and competitions include ITG, NTC, CODA, TMEA, GMEA, CBDNA, Midwest, NABBA, and most recently England's "Brass in Concert". David's musical journey has taken him across three continents, where he has performed for audiences in over 15 countries.

Guided by his passion for the trumpet, David owes much of his success to his dedicated mentors, Wiff Rudd and Joe Burgstaller. Their influence, particularly in the realm of chamber music, gave shape to David's early musical influences and longstanding affection for the Brass Quintet.

Clinton Soisson,
Horn

Clinton Soisson is a french hornist with the Ceremonial Brass, The United States Air Force Band. Originally from Hartville, Ohio, his career in the Air Force began in May 2023.

Before joining the Air Force, Clinton joined the Parkway Brass Quintet in 2016 premiering many works by local composers. Currently third horn with the Avanti Orchestra of the Friday Morning Music Club, he has also had the privilege of performing with the Old Bay Brass Quintet, National Philharmonic, Lancaster Symphony, Boca Symphonia and Fairfax Symphony.

Clinton earned a Master of Music degree from Lynn University, Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Akron. His primary teachers include Bill Hoyt, Greg Miller and Phil Munds.

Sarah Lewandowski,
Tenor Trombone

Sarah Lewandowski is a performer and educator based in Buffalo, NY. She received a Bachelor of Music in both education and performance from SUNY Fredonia before continuing to pursue trombone performance at the Peabody Conservatory. There, she earned a Master of Music and Graduate Performance Diploma studying with James Olin and David Murray.

Sarah has performed with the New World Symphony, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also a founding member of the Old Bay Brass Quintet and performs regularly with local chamber groups. A 2019 fellow at the National Orchestral Institute and Festival, she can be heard on “American Classics” recorded with the NAXOS music label.

As a teacher, Sarah has worked with students of all ages, from elementary general music classes to collegiate brass. She has also worked with the Baltimore Symphony ORCHkids program, SUNY Fredonia Summer Music Festival, and enjoys teaching private lessons and masterclasses.

Harry Oehler,
Bass Trombone

Harry Oehler is an accomplished trombonist, music educator, and conductor from Skippack, Pennsylvania. Harry began studying trombone in grade school under the guidance of Jim Soete. During high school, he continued his studies privately with Blair Bollinger of the Philadelphia Orchestra before attending the Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University. At Peabody, Harry earned two Bachelor of Music degrees (performance and music education) and a Master of Music in Bass Trombone Performance. Harry studied at Peabody with Randy Campora and Jim Olin while being mentored by Joe Burgstaller and David Fedderly.In addition, Harry apprenticed conducting and ensemble technique privately under Dr. Harlan Parker. Among other academic recognition, while still an undergraduate, Harry was inducted into the musical honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda.

Mr. Oehler is currently on faculty at Ursinus College, Ancillae-Assumpta Academy, and Community Music School, where he is responsible for private studio lessons, coaching chamber groups, and directing a variety of ensembles, including the Ursinus Wind Ensemble.He is a frequent clinician with a variety of educational institutions including youth orchestras and collegiate brass and music departments. An accomplished arranger for both solo and chamber works, Harry’s arrangements have been performed worldwide.

Harry has served as the principal bass trombonist of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra since 2017 under maestro James Blachly and is a founder and administrator of the professional brass quintet, Old Bay Brass. A versatile performer, Harry is frequently asked to perform with various orchestras, jazz bands, pit orchestras, and other ensembles. Harry can be heard playing on multiple recording projects from orchestral works to commercial studio projects.

Harry is married to soprano and music educator Bailey Jo Oehler. Harry plays a Shires TBBO-Blair Bollinger Model bass trombone with a Griego .5 Deco Model mouthpiece.