July 31-August 2, 2026

Northfield, Minnesota

Scott Muntefering, EBF Conference Host

Paul Niemisto, Local Host

Sandy Coffin, HBS Event Coordinator

Paper presentations related to any aspect of early brass or brass bands – including but not limited to band history, pedagogy, repertoire, performance practice, and biographical/historical information.

EBF Sessions will be in the beautiful 19th Century Northfield Depot.

Suggested nearby housing: Country Inn & Suites by Radisson. (Walking distance to Northfield Depot)

$50 EBF Registration for paid HBS members ($35 HBS Student Member)

$60 for non-HBS members ($45 non-HBS Student)

Non-HBS members may join and pay the HBS Member registration rate.

VBF attendees may visit individual sessions free.

https://historicbrass.regfox.com/early-brass-festival-2026

Early Brass Festival Schedule

Friday July 31

9:00 am Registration – Northfield Depot (204 W. Third St)

9:40 am Welcome – Scott Muntefering, Conference Host

Session One – Bands in America (Elisa Koehler, Moderator)

9:45-10:15 am Michael O’Connor – The Shadow Repertoire of the Dodworth Cornet Band

10:15-10:45 am Scott Muntefering – The Corn Palace Festival and the Golden Age of Bands (1910, 1916-1918)

10:45-11:00 am Break (tentative)

11:00-11:30 am Bryan Proksch – Bands and the Passing of an Era in The Twilight Zone

11:30-12:00 pm Patricia Backhaus – An Adamless Garden of Musical Eves

Saturday August 1

Session Two – Instruments and Makers (Scott Muntefering, Moderator)

9:45-10:15 am Bruce Gleason – Cavalry Trumpeters and Kettledrummers

10:15-10:45 am Robert Apple – A Closer Look at John F. Stratton’s German Music Instrument Factories

(1866-1880)

10:45-11:15 am George Foreman – The Remarkable Journey of Jules Levy’s Russian Cornet

Sunday August 2

Session Three – Personalities (Scott Muntefering, Moderator)

9:45-10:15 am Kate Pewenofkit Briner – Before the Ballroom: Lorenzo Papanti and a Reconsideration of His

Early Musical Career (19 th century US horn soloist)

10:15-10:45 am John Nordell – Ralph Kenny and The Kenny Band Instrument Company of Minneapolis

10:45-11:15 am Patrick Hennessey – Heinrich Berger: Prussian Son – “Father of Hawaiian Music”