The Brass String Chamber Ensemble

Paul Semanic, a Chicago native, has been The Do-It-Yourself Messiah trumpet soloist for over a dozen years. He currently performs with (and is Personnel Manager of) the Rockford Symphony, the Fox Valley Symphony, the Stonegate Brass, the Bach Chamber Orchestra and the Brass String Chamber Ensemble. Paul has also performed with the Grant Park Symphony, Symphony II, Concertante di Chicago, Knoxville Symphony, Oak Ridge Symphony, Elgin Symphony, Southwest Michigan Symphony, St Charles Music Festival and the Woodstock Mozart Festival.

Paul is an orchestral soloist specializing in baroque trumpet literature, and he enjoys performing recitals and presenting master classes and clinics to young brass enthusiasts. He has earned both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Trumpet Performance (on scholarship), and is currently the Brass Instructor at Benedictine University in Lisle and runs a private trumpet studio in Streamwood.
Performance (on scholarship), and is currently the Brass Instructor at Benedictine University in Lisle and runs a private trumpet studio in Streamwood.

When not performing music, Paul can be found studying T'ai Chi Ch'uan, a Chinese martial art/meditative exercise.

Paul's primary (non-musical) role within the Brass String Chamber Ensemble is that of musician contractor. His comprehensive database of musicians is a collection of the finest in the area. Paul also contracts for the Rockford Symphony and the Bach Chamber Orchestra so he is constantly meeting new, talented musicians who love to play for weddings. He contracts other musicians outside of the "Brass String" category... pianists, organists, vocalists, jazz ensembles, harps, bagpipes, woodwinds, etc. are all just a phone call (or e-mail) away. Last-minute requests can often be granted, but of course more notice is always better!

Kris, a Chicago-area native, has been playing the violin since grade school. She majored in Violin Performance at Butler University where she studied with Larry Shapiro. After graduation she played with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago which is the training orchestra for the Chicago Symphony.

She currently performs with the Brass String Chamber Ensemble, the Rockford Symphony and the Bach Chamber Orchestra and is called on frequently to play with the Elgin Symphony as well as other ensembles in the Chicago area. She has played with many internationally renowned soloists including Luciano Pavarotti and Itzhak Perlman. She also has performed numerous "contemporary" concerts with artists such as Page & Plant (Led Zeppelin), the Moody Blues, ELO, Anne Murray, Doc Severinsen, Orbert Davis (jazz), Bandana (bluegrass) and others. She uses this wealth of musical experience to create exciting string quartet arrangements of classical and contemporary selections as requested by her clients.

Kristine's primary (non-musical) role within the Brass String Chamber Ensemble is customer service. You will likely speak with her when you call for information or with questions, and she will respond to your e-mails in a timely manner. She will work with you to select appropriate and beautiful music for your ceremony and/or reception. Kristine also designs and prints unique and beautiful wedding ceremony programs.

**The bove information is directly from TheBSCE's website.