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Kick Brass, featuring alumni from Neuqua Valley High School and Gregory Middle School, perform in Naperville

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Kick Brass is pictured street performing live at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. (Photo by Adelyn Mui)

UPDATE, Jan. 19, 2025 / Neuqua Valley High School graduate Jack Tolentino, now All Trades Promotions/Talent Promoter and founder of Kick Brass at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, provided photos of the group’s local performances in School District 204 on Jan. 17.

Pictured on stage at Neuqua Valley High School are Ryan Hanson (trombone), Tolentino (baritone saxophone), Cy Hallera-Cavanez (drums), Wade Wilson (tenor saxophone) and Justin Martin (trumpet).
 
Kick Brass is pictured performing on stage at Neuqua Valley High School. (Photo by Scott Oliver)

The five-member brass band also spent a major portion of the school day in a classroom at Gregory Middle School.

During a visit to Gregory Middle School, Kick Brass participated in a Q&A session and also performed for students. (Photo courtesy Jack Tolentino)
“We are still finalizing dates and locations for our next performances,” added Tolentino. “We’ll post on our website when finalized, but we’re planning to perform at some of the local venues on and around campus here at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, this semester, in the next few months.”
 
 

Original Post, Jan. 12, 2025 / Kick Brass, a high-energy brass band from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is coming to Naperville for special performances on Fri., Jan. 17, 2025.

The band will perform beginning at 8:15AM at Neuqua Valley High School and 10:55AM at Gregory Middle School, inspiring students to stay engaged with music and explore nontraditional music opportunities like playing in a brass band.

The performances, exclusively for the students, are particularly exciting as two band members, Jack Tolentino and Justin Martin, are alumni of these schools.

Tolentino attended Gregory Middle School, Class of 2019, and Neuqua Valley High School, Class of 2023. He is the band’s leader and baritone saxophonist.

“Performing at our former schools is a special opportunity for us,” said Tolentino. “This is where we first learned to play our instruments and being able to show students that music can be a lifelong passion—with many ways to stay involved, even in nontraditional groups like ours—is a truly rewarding experience.

Martin attended Gregory Middle School, Class of 2018, and Neuqua Valley, Class of 2022. Martin plays trumpet.

Both musicians note they’re passionate about giving back to their community and encouraging young musicians to continue their musical journeys. They aim to inspire music participation and showcase the versatility and excitement of brass bands.

Kick Brass represents the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s commitment to fostering creativity, innovation and collaboration in music. The group’s vibrant performances demonstrate how music can connect people across different styles, traditions, and generations.

Kick Brass Band Band

Kick Brass is a student-led group known for its energetic performances and commitment to making music accessible to everyone, via street performances. With a unique mix of music genres, the band’s mission is to inspire audiences to embrace the joy of music-making.

The tour/event poster, designed by band leader Tolentino, featured here, promotes performances at Neuqua Valley High School and Gregory Middle School on Fri., Jan. 17.

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