NORLAN BEWLEY
Norlan Bewley, Low Brass Artist (trombone, euphonium, tuba), is a new breed of brass player specializing in performance on all of the low brass instruments. For over 30 years he has had extensive experience teaching, performing on, and composing for low brass, developing an unparalled perspective, insight, and approach toward these instruments. Through years of private teaching and performance, he has developed direct and effective methods of instruction that address the most basic and difficult areas of low brass playing in a manner clear to all, from beginners to professionals. In his private teaching alone, Norlan has given more than 2000 individual low brass students over 50,000 private lessons. A champion of the instruments, he is dedicated to the improvement, advancement, and increase of opportunities for every aspect of low brass education and performance.
Norlan is the founder and principal composer/arranger for UPBEAT BRASS. A former student and longtime professional colleague of Harvey Phillips, he serves as Associate Director of Harvey Phillips tuba ensembles and projects, including TUBACHRISTMAS, TUBASANTAS, the TUBACOMPANY, and the TUBASHOP QUARTET. As much in demand for his writing as he is for his playing, Norlan composes and arranges virtually all of the music performed by these ensembles. He also has his own publishing company, BEWLEY MUSIC, which specializes in music for low brass. In 1992, he edited the volume 2 edition of the "Carols For A Merry TubaChristmas" music book, adding several of his own arrangements (Jingle Bells, for example) to the original collection of arrangements by noted composer Alec Wilder. Norlan was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for music composition in 2005.
In 1978 he was awarded scholarships to study with his mentor Harvey Phillips at the Indiana University School of Music. While there he won numerous chamber music competitions with TOP BRASS, and toured with Henry Mancini, Mel Torme, Doc Severinsen, and the Indianapolis Symphony. Before founding UPBEAT BRASS, Norlan toured with TOP BRASS after graduating from I.U., presenting more than 1000 professional performances with that ensemble over the past 20 years. His work as a performer, composer, and educator has been supported by The National Endowment for the Arts, The Ohio Arts Council, The American Music Center, Culture Works, The Mead Foundation, NCR Corporation, LexisNexis, The Harvey Phillips Foundation, Reynolds and Reynolds, and many other organizations.
He is a clinician for the Bach and Holton instruments of the Conn-Selmer Corporation.
Norlan is also very devoted to Music Education, promoting low brass performance through music publishing, master classes, clinics, residencies, and his large private teaching studio in the Dayton and Cincinnati area. He was presented by Harvey Phillips and Conn-Selmer at the 2005 Midwest Clinic in a session entitled "Improving The Low Brass Section With The Low Brass Ensemble."
The handout for this session is available at [norlanbewley.com/links.htm]
His teachers include Harvey Phillips, Michael Lind, Keith Brown, David Baker, Rich Matteson, Ashley Alexander, Tom Jenkins, Louis Davidson, and Sam Burtis.
Norlan Bewley plays the Bach LT6, LT8G, LT12, LT16M, LT36BOG, LT42, LT42BO, LT42BOG, LT50B3O, LT39G trombones, the Besson 968 euphonium, the "Harvey Phillips" Model Holton TU-331 tuba, and the Holton TU-345 tuba.
Reviews of these instruments are available at [norlanbewley.com/instruments.htm]