Aurora, Ill. —The Chicago Brass Quintet, a nationally prominent brass chamber music group, will perform in George Williams College of Aurora University’s eighth annual Music by the Lake series at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 3.

Performances are in The Ferro Pavilion at George Williams College, located on the shores of Geneva Lake at 350 Constance Blvd. in Williams Bay, Wis.

The Chicago Brass Quintet performs music of all periods and styles with a dose of good humor. The quintet was formed in 1964 to promote the appreciation and enjoyment of brass chamber music through performances, educational workshops, broadcasts, recording and commissioning new works.

After rising to national prominence with the release of their first recording for Crystal Records, the quintet has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, South America and Asia.

Quintet members are:

• Ross Beacraft, Trumpet. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Beacraft performs as the principal trumpet with Chicago Opera Theater, Concertante di Chicago, and the Elgin Symphony. In addition, he has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, with Chicago’s ballet and theater orchestras, and in many radio and television commercials.

• Matthew Lee, Trumpet. Lee performs as principal trumpet with the Illinois Philharmonic, Light Opera Works, and the Millar Brass Ensemble. A finalist in the Maurice Andre Solo Trumpet Competition, he performs frequently with the Lyric Opera and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of Western Illinois and Northwestern Universities, he is currently on the faculties of DePaul University and Elmhurst College.

• Gregory Flint, French Horn. Assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin, Flint holds the principal horn position at the Elgin Symphony, Chicago Opera Theater, Present Music of Milwaukee, and the Fulcrum Point New Music Project. He has also performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the Grant Park, Colorado, Honolulu and Key West Orchestras. He has toured with Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion. Flint has also served on the faculties of DePaul University, Roosevelt University and Northwestern University.

• James Mattern, Trombone. Founder of the Chicago Brass Quintet, Mattern has a distinguished career as a performer and arranger. A graduate of Lawrence University and Northwestern University, he has often performed with the Lyric Opera, Grant Park Symphony, Chicago’s Contemporary Chamber Players and with the city’s ballet and theater orchestras. His brass compositions and arrangements are performed worldwide.

• Daniel Anderson, Tuba. As principal tuba with the Lake Forest Symphony and in many of Chicago’s theater orchestras, Anderson is a highly respected jazz bassist, performing often with many of the city’s finest jazz artists, as well as with his own ensemble, Basso Nouveaux. A graduate of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University, he currently serves on the faculty at DePaul University and Columbia College.

Ticket Information

Single tickets are available for the Chicago Brass Quintet performance in the dress circle seating area for $40 and the orchestra seating area for $30.

For tickets, visit the Web site at www.aurora.edu/mbtl or call ( 262) 245-8501 or ( 866) 843-5200, toll free.

Music by the Lake Series Information

For the first time, the summer season of eight performances includes the Main Stage Series, with four Saturday evening performances; the Sundays at 4 Series, featuring classical chamber music performances; and the season finale Spotlight Concert.

The Main Stage series continues with:

• Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, an 18-piece big band jazz ensemble with a contemporary sound, and vocalist Patti Austin, the 2008 Grammy winning artist for Jazz Vocal Album of the Year, Saturday, Aug. 9, at 7:30 p.m. This performance is supported by the Arts Midwest’s Performing Arts Fund.

The following individuals helped to establish the new Sundays at 4 Series: The Bell Family Foundation, Opera Underwriter; Harold Hartshorne, Jr., Sundays at 4 Series Underwriter; and the Judith and John Graff Charitable Fund, Sundays at 4 Silver Sponsor.

The 2008 Music by the Lake concert series is generously supported by presenting sponsor Keefe Real Estate; platinum sponsors AT&T, FairWyn Investment & Development, Gage Marine and Lake Geneva Cruise Line, and Scherrer Construction, Inc.; gold sponsors Aurora Health Care, Grand Geneva Resort and Spa, HGA Architects and Engineers, and Larson Sheet Metal, Inc.; and silver sponsors The Abbey Resort, Balestrieri Environmental & Development, Inc., First Banking Center, Johnson Bank, M&I Wealth Management, Sodexho Campus Services, Walworth State Bank, and Arts Midwest’s Performing Arts Fund.

Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. Approximately 4,000 degree-seeking students are enrolled each year on the university’s Illinois and Wisconsin campuses, and the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s and doctoral levels. The George Williams College campus offers 14 academic programs, unique conference facilities and is home to Music by the Lake and other education and enrichment programs.