Brendan Grzanic, trumpet, has spent most of his life here in the Treasure Valley. He graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.
While at BSU, Brendan studied trumpet with Professor Marcellus Brown, and was a principal trumpet player in the Symphonic Winds and the University Orchestra. He has been a member of the Boise Philharmonic Orchestra since 2011 and has also performed with the Boise Baroque Orchestra, the Treasure Valley Concert Band, the Boise City Band, Meridian Symphony, Boise Music Week Orchestra, Brass Band of the Treasure Valley, as well as the Hymns of Thanksgiving Orchestra. This will be Brendan’s second appearance as a soloist for Hymns of Thanksgiving.
Brendan currently reaches and band and music at Victory Middle School and is an assistant director at Centennial High School during the fall marching band season. Prior to joining the teaching staff at Victory, he taught music and band at Pioneer School of the Arts and Galileo STEM Academy.
In his free time, Brendan enjoys woodworking, biking, running, hiking, and backpacking in Idaho’s mountains.
BrieAnne Welch, Soprano, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Bass Clarinet and Voice, as well as a Masters Degree in Voice Performance at California State University in Sacramento. She currently trains with internationally renowned vocal technician and director, Andrea DelGuidice in New York City. She has performed in numerous roles in multiple operas, both here in the United States and in Italy. She has also taught vocal classes at Sierra College in California.
BrieAnne and her family moved from Sacramento to Meridian five years ago. She is the co-owner and development director of Gemma Arts, a regionally recognized company that provides a career bridge and catalyst for opera artists, and educates the public in performer development and appreciation of classical music and singing by presenting concerts in under-resourced areas such as Garden City, Star, Rexburg and Caldwell. Its annual event, Opera by The River, has been made possible through collaboration with the Star Park, Arts, and Beautification Committee.
Last year, BrieAnne prepared a choir for a Messiah Sing Along at the College of Idaho, at which she was also a featured artist. Again this year, she will be preparing for the second annual Messiah Sing Along on December 17 at the College of Idaho, in partnership with the Canyon County Symphony. When not involved in numerous music activities, BrieAnne and her husband are active parents of four very active boys. She relaxes by growing multiple varieties of flowers and planning her summer vegetable garden.
Del Parkinson, piano, is a professor of piano as well as keyboard chair at Boise State university. He was previously keyboard chair at Brigham Young University-Idaho, where he taught piano. He holds a doctor of music degree from Indiana University and a postgraduate diploma from The Julliard School. He was the recipient of a Fulbright-Hays grant for graduate study in London.
Del has performed in Europe, Asia, South America, and throughout the United States. His London debut recital was on the American Bicentennial Series, and his New York debut recital in the Carnegie Recital Hall was sponsored by the Idaho Commission on the Arts.
He has soloed with the Guadalajara Symphony, Indiana University Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Boise Philharmonic, and the Utah Symphony. He is on the international roster of Steinway artists and is featured on four compact disc recordings. He is a recipient of the Idaho Commission on the Arts fellowship award and the Idaho Governor’s Award for excellence in the arts.
Probably one of the most honored and beloved musicians in all Idaho, he has appeared as a guest soloist for every Hymns of Thanksgiving concert.