Past concerts:
April 30 concert livestream
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fusoc5pFftY
Concert link: No Limits Youth Brass Holiday Concert - YouTube
No Limits Audition update: audition material is now available for the 2023-2024 season. We have a lot of great music planned including Sibelius Karalia Suite, Verdi's Overture to Nabucca, Bizet's Farandole, Grieg's Holberg Suite, and many others. The following openings remain in No Limits 1: Trumpet (2 spots), Trombone (2 spots), Euphonium. No Limits 2 does not have section caps and will continue accepting new members through the end of September.
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What is a brass choir?
A brass choir is an ensemble of only brass players. That means the brass players actually get to play all the cool parts of the music. Tired of counting way too many measures of rest or listening to woodwind or string players play the interesting parts? Then brass choir is the place for you. No Limits plays primarily orchestral music arranged for brass instruments only. That means everyone gets to play interesting parts. In addition, there is often only one player per part meaning everyone is important in the ensemble. No Limits is also the only program where the director has not only typically written the music, but has recorded the music himself and thus can give you instrument specific tips to help you sound your absolute best!
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What is NO LIMITS?
The most exciting year-round educational honors ensembles for brass players, directed by expert brass instructor Ben Parke
No Limits 1: our elite ensemble. Players typically have 4+ years or equivalent of playing experience, know all key signatures, have a highly polished sound, 2 1/2 octaves of range, can single/double/triple tongue, and can read and count at an advanced level. Many have gone on to study at prestigious music schools such as Northwestern, DePaul, Cincinnati Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, Oberlin, Indiana University, etc. All new and returning members complete an audition in the spring. Audition packets are posted below. No Limits 1 caps sections at 6 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, 1 euphonium, and 2 tubas.
No Limits 2: Our intermediate group. These players have on average 2+ years of playing experience. Most are in grades 7-12. Players in this group are rhythmically sound, know the majority of key signatures, have started learning vibrato and double/triple tonguing, but are still developing their sound, range, and musicianship. Players in this group will have at least 2 octaves of range and will have completed the equivalent of Chapter 8 in "The Young Virtuoso" method by Ben Parke. This group also includes members from NL1 who play a second brass instrument. This group is the final stop before NL1 and is our intense training ensemble. Audition packets for this ensemble are posted below. There are no section caps and all players meeting the minimum ability standard for this group will be accepted.
Summer session 1: non-auditioned group for intermediate to advanced players with 2+ years experience. Monday-Thursday evenings for one week performing Holst's First Suite for Military Band. Dates to be determined. Tuition $100. Vista Lutheran Church St Louis Park.
No Limits welcomes members of all backgrounds, religions, gender identities, and races and expects all members to create a welcoming and respectful musical and professional environment where we each can thrive.
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Why should I join?
Because brass choir is fun and we play great music while learning brass specific performance techniques. Past music includes Beethoven Symphonies, Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, the 1812 Overture, Pines of Rome, etc. No Limits is the only area youth ensemble program where the director plays every instrument and typically has not only written, but also performed the music himself, allowing him to give you customized performance advice (see Les Preludes YouTube video for an example of director Ben Parke's full brass performance.)
No Limits 1 2023-2024 repertoire: Sibelius Karelia Suite, Holberg Suite, Poet and Peasant Overture and others
No Limits 2 2023-2024 repertoire: Overture to Nabucco, Farandole, Warlock Capriol Suite, and others
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What is the time commitment?
Full year group:
No Limits 1 Sundays 5:25-7pm
No Limits 2 Sundays 5-6:10pm
Vista Lutheran Church in St Louis Park starting September 11, 2022 through May 2023
No Limits 1 tuition: $450
No Limits 2 tuition: $375
Scholarships available as needed. Please indicate scholarship interest when registering. Tuition is for the full season and is non-refundable. No Limits is a September to May commitment and players offered placement in an ensemble are expected to commit for the full season.
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This sounds great! How do I join?
To register: registration form
For more information: contact
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Concert Schedule
TBD
No Limits 1 2022 audition packets: (due by 10pm May 15th)
trumpet help video
No Limits 1 Trombone and Euphonium audition
No Limits 1 Tuba and Bass Trombone audition
No Limits 2 2022 audition packets:
No Limits 2 Trombone and Euphonium audition
trombone/euphonium/tuba help video
No Limits 2 Tuba and Bass Trombone audition
Audition submission guidelines:
Submissions should be via video uploaded as unlisted to YouTube. Please send the video link to director Ben Parke Each excerpt can be recorded separately, but all videos should be combined into one video for ease in audition committee viewing. Auditions are typically quite competitive so be sure to send us your best playing. When setting up to record, test different setups to find which gives the best sound. Should your video have distorted sound we will request that you record the material over again as we will not be able to accurately judge your sound quality and dynamics. Auditions will be graded on tone quality, dynamics, musicianship (phrasing, expression), rhythmic accuracy, articulation, and proper style.
Auditions are due by 10pm May 15th
Director Ben Parke performs No Limits 1's version of Light Cavalry Overture