In 1977, Gil Mitchell formed the Brass of Peace in order to create a more enriched musical experience for his talented trumpet students. In 1990, Gil Mitchell passed the baton to Sylvia Alimena, hornist with the National Symphony Orchestra. Since that time, Brass of Peace performs regularly on its own concert series at Peace Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Virginia as well as being regularly featured guest artists on the Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Fairfax Concert Series, the Alexandria Performing Arts Series held at the Lyceum and the Church of the Epiphany Noontime Concert Series.  This season Brass of Peace will perform for thousands of children and their families on the stage of the Kennedy Center Family Theater and in schools across the region. Many alumni have gone on to conservatories such as the Curtis Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, The Juilliard School, as well as Indiana University, MIT, University of Michigan and other fine schools. Many graduates of Brass of Peace have also gone on to become employed in the nation's symphony orchestras and orchestras throughout the world, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Oregon Symphony and the San Francisco Symphony.

Graduates from Brass of Peace include;  Jennifer Montone, Principal Horn, Philadelphia Orchestra;  Nicole Cash, Associate Principal Horn San Francisco Symphony;  Jeff Work, Principal Trumpet, Oregon Symphony;  Anneka Zuehlke, Principal Horn, Greenville Symphony;  Robert Singer, trumpeter, President's Own Marine Band; Blakely Carroll, trumpeter, the Air Force Band; Rex Richardson, international trumpet soloist; Zachary Smith, Assistant Principal Horn, Pittsburgh Symphony; Scott Wood, Conductor of the Amadeus Orchestra; Roger Oyster, Principal Trombone, Kansas City Symphony.