History of the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass
The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass is a 30-musician strong ensemble based on the British brass band format. The instruments utilized are Eb Soprano cornet, Bb Cornets, Flugelhorn, Eb Alto Horns, Baritones, Euphoniums, Tenor and Bass Trombones, Eb & Bb Tubas, and three percussionists playing tympani, snare & bass drums, xylophone, chimes, cymbals, marimba, vibraphone, concert bells, and miscellaneous other small percussion equipment.
The Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band was organized in early 2008 by Dwight Wages who had recently retired to the Cumberland Plateau after a 38-year career with Procter and Gamble. Dwight had previously been active as a musician with two other brass bands; the Cincinnati Brass Band and the Intrada Brass Band (Toronto), and was very keen on continuing his activity with this unique ensemble.
Upon moving he found that there was no brass band within reasonable driving distance, so he decided to look at organizing one where he lived to avoid having to personally drive far to participate in the music that he loved. He contacted Charles Decker (trumpet professor at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville at that time) and Charles supplied him with the names of possible musicians in Eastern and Middle TN whom he believed might be interested in Dwight’s vision.
The response to an email sent by Dwight to recruit musicians showed that there was a sufficient nucleus to begin rehearsals, and the first rehearsal began in February 2008. Musicians in the group hail from Knoxville, Chattanooga, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Cookeville, Crossville areas. Many drive 1-3.5 hours (each way) for rehearsals and concerts. However, the winner for long-distance is the band’s conductor for 15 years, Dr. Steven Sudduth. Taking over the baton while he was a professor at University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, KY, Dr. Sudduth remains committed to the ensemble even after his family has relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan! He also is the conductor of the Lansing (Michigan) Concert Band.
From the beginning, Dwight made the decision that the group would be organized as a professional ensemble where the musicians would be compensated for their rehearsals and concerts. In acknowledgement of the musician’s busy schedules and travel distances, the Band only holds two rehearsals for three hours each to prepare for a concert. This means they need to come to the rehearsals with their parts completely prepared. The band typically prepares a full concert of mostly new music with only those two rehearsals and does this with their motto of providing “Premium Entertainment” in mind. Feedback from concert audiences consistently confirms the quality of the band’s performances, along with positive feedback in the variety of music programmed.
The name Southern Stars Symphonic Brass was selected for the following reasons:
1) The Band is drawn from Eastern & Middle Tennessee from the area’s top brass and percussion musicians; therefore, they are “Southern Stars”
2) The Band plays music representative of a wide variety of styles and genres, often doing orchestral transcriptions. They pride themselves in being able to play with sensitivity and dynamics that audiences expect from a symphony orchestra, therefore the use of “Symphonic” in the name
3) Lastly, the ensemble is 30-musicians strong—27 brass and 3 percussionist musicians. Since the group is predominately brass instrumentalists, the final part of the name, “Brass”
Since their inaugural concert in April 2008, the band has presented approximately 90 concerts in their 17 years of existence. The SSSB have produced 3 CD’s and 2 DVD which demonstrate the quality of the ensemble. They perform a three-concert series in Crossville (their geographic home and rehearsal location) as well as other concerts throughout the area.
In recognition of their growing reputation, the Southern Stars have performed for estimated audiences of 7,000 at multiple Main Stage appearances at the Great American Brass Band Festival, beginning with their first performance on June 12, 2010 in Danville, Kentucky. This was the 21st anniversary for the GABBF, and the festival remains a very prestigious event which shows that the Band has met their goal of being recognized as a top brass band in North America. They have been honored to be invited to perform at the GABBF on 3 separate occasions. The band welcomed international trumpet soloist Jens Lindemann as their guest in 2010, and in 2022, the band returned to the festival and performed with the renowned trumpet soloist Rex Richardson as their guest soloist.
In May of 2025, the band was honored to receive the title as the Official Brass Band of Tennessee. The State Legislature passed a bill naming the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass with this title which required a vote by both the House and Senate to designate the SSSB with this outstanding achievement. Speaker of the TN House, Cameron Sexton, made the official presentation at our concert on May 4th with a large framed plaque containing the wording of the official Bill and the GREAT SEAL of the state of Tennessee.