W&L’s SonoKlect Series Presents Matt Niess and The Capitol Bones The Oct. 4 performance will be followed by a reception.

Office of Communications and Public Affairs
September 19, 2025

Washington and Lee University’s Department of Music presents Matt Niess and The Capitol Bones, an all-brass band in concert on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. in Wilson Concert Hall in the Lenfest Center for the Arts. The performance is part of the SonoKlect Series, a program dedicated to bringing modern music to local audiences in Lexington. A reception in Lykes atrium will follow the performance.

The event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

Founded in 1990 by trombonist Matt Niess, The Capitol Bones are acclaimed for their bold sound and unique instrumentation. Modeled after a traditional jazz big band, the group sets itself apart with a mellophone section replacing the saxophones, creating a distinctive timbre that blends the brilliance of trumpets with the warmth of trombones. The Capitol Bones have performed at the Kennedy Center, the International Trombone Festival and venues across the country, earning praise for their innovative approach to the brass tradition.

The Oct. 4 program will include two works by local composer and SonoKlect Series director Terry Vosbein, continuing a long-standing artistic collaboration between Vosbein and Niess.

“When I first heard this band, they blew me away,” said Vosbein, who is also a professor of music, composition and music theory at W&L. “I knew I had to bring them to Lexington.”

Vosbein has composed big band music for over five decades and has developed a national reputation for his inventive, richly orchestrated works. His partnership with The Capitol Bones reflects both his personal enthusiasm for the ensemble and the SonoKlect Series’ mission to present cutting-edge contemporary music to the Lexington community.

“I love being able to bring new musical experiences to Lexington audiences,” Vosbein said. “It excites me to see the smiles on their faces.”

The Capitol Bones will be joined by Darden Purcell, a Washington, D.C.-based jazz vocalist who has sung with symphony orchestras, big bands and small ensembles. She is also the director of the jazz studies program at George Mason University.