Little Rock - Every Monday, the 33 musicians who make up the Natural State Brass Band are hard at work—fine-tuning their sound. They play a handful of concerts in Arkansas each year, and once a year they take their show on the road to the North American Brass Band Championships.

(Rusty Morris, Conductor) “It's a great thrill to go to these things and play for the judges and play for the audience, and put your necks on the line.”

This year, in Louisville, the band was in the zone.

(Morris) “It was pretty exciting to finish the first piece, and we got a huge ovation from the audience. The audience didn't just include spouses and friends, this was people who didn't know us, and they were just there to hear bands. When we finished our second piece, which is a real tour de force for brass bands, the place just erupted.”

The band won first place in the challenge division, and earned the second-highest score of the competition--a big honor for the volunteers who give up so much of their time for something they love.

(Morris) “We have some judges, some attorneys, cardiologists in the group. We have business owners. We have college professors. We have college students. We have a high school student. We have retirees. Everyone is just drawn together by the love of playing their instruments.”

And they love the message they get to send to their audiences.

(Morris) “When we get on stage, we're telling a story with our music. Everyone out in the audience is hearing a different story, yet it's going to be their own story. I think people enjoy that.”

The band will hold a concert Sunday at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock.

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