Time for an "official" post

I have realized that besides the link to Jörgen van Rijen on YouTube, the only other post I have done in a while was an unofficial announcement that we are going to Iowa. Forgive me! It's official. It has been official for several weeks. I have signed a contract! I was offered the Iowa Performance Fellowship. It is a great honor to have that scholarship - there are only two awarded each year. We are really grateful and can't feel blessed enough for this opportunity.
We are moving to Iowa next week! This situation is what seems to work out best all around on every side. We have been frantically trying to get everything in order for the move, on top of the recital, gigs, and a nasty paper that was due today. There are still a few more things, but they are coming together nicely.
For now, Go Hawkeyes!

Jorgen van Rijen plays Bert Appermont's Colors for trombone

University of Iowa

Well team,
it is unofficially official. We are going to the University of Iowa for the DMA (Doctorate of Musical Arts). The unofficial part is that I have been offered a verbal agreement, but have yet to sign a contract, but that should change in about a week or so.

This is how it is going to go down:
The Iowa Performance Fellowship guaratees funding for three years. One of the years requires no duties, and the other two years, you must perform some other kind of TA duties. Apparently, I have been offered a jazz TA, so I will fulfill that the first year, then have my fellowship year the second year, and the trombone assistantship the third year.

This is an amazing situation for us. We are excited for the move, the new opportunities, and the beginning of the end of school!

Michael Mulcahy Recital and Masterclass

On March 13, 2007 Michael Mulcahy presented a recital and masterclass at the University of Utah. He was assisted by Dr. Ling Nu on piano and Larry Zalkind on trombone.

After the recital, Matt Laube (graduate assistant in trombone) and I played for Mulcahy. Matt played the Ropartz and I played the first movement of the Creston. It was great to have his (Mulcahy's) insights on these pieces. Following the masterclass portion of the evening, it was open to questions. In response to the question "What should someone do to achieve what you are doing?" (namely, playing in a major symphony), Mulcahy responded that one simply needed to listen to music (besides practicing and working hard, ofcourse), but that many people claim to want to be a musician, but they don't listen to recordings or live concerts. I suppose it would be the same to say "I want to be able to speak Chinese", but to never listen to it. It would be impossible.

Here is a picture from that evening. From left to right: Larry Zalkind, Dr. Donn Schaefer, Matt Laube, Jonathan Allen, and Michael Mulcahy.

Iowa - the official state instrument.

I saw this on the ITA website and personally, I think it's awesome!


Iowa State Legislation Considering Making Trombone the State Musical Instrument

It's not a state muffin or bird, but there are those who think Iowa's cultural heritage owes a lot...to the trombone. Two northern Iowa senators want to slide a resolution past their peers to make the trombone Iowa's official state musical instrument. Thurman Gaskill of Corwith, a Republican, and Democrat Amanda Ragan, a Senator from Mason City, point out that nothing did more to make the state famous than Meredith Willson's "Music Man," and of course Glenn Miller, a native of Clarinda, Iowa, was a renowned trombonist and big band leader. It's the mainstay of every marching band, their resolution points out -- the giant among jazz band instruments, and the two say it's high time the trombone was Iowa's official state instrument. A copy of the proposed resolution follows:

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 20
BY RAGAN and GASKILL
A Resolution declaring the trombone Iowa's premier musical instrument.
WHEREAS, the trombone is certainly the most recognizable of the brass instruments, being the only one with a true slide section, having been in existence for over five centuries, and remaining relatively unchanged; and
WHEREAS, the trombone holds a unique place in Iowa's musical heritage; and
WHEREAS, two of Iowa's favorite sons, Meredith Willson and Glenn Miller, have made the trombone a centerpiece of their careers; and
WHEREAS, the trombone was made famous by Mason City native Meredith Willson in that rousing song "76 Trombones," which was part of his Broadway hit and Hollywood movie "The Music Man"; and
WHEREAS, Clarinda native Glenn Miller made dynamic use of the trombone in his big band hits "In the Mood," "Moonlight Serenade," "Chattanooga Choo-Choo," "Pennsylvania 6-5000," and "A String of Pearls"; and
WHEREAS, the trombone is a mainstay of every marching band and jazz band in Iowa and in the nation;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate, honoring the lives and music of those great Iowans, Meredith Willson and Glenn Miller, declares the trombone Iowa's premier musical instrument.

Alms.....Alms for the poor....

Last week my gig bag and I had a lovely encounter with ice and a steep driveway getting to the car on the way to fly to the Iowa City, Iowa for an audition at the University of Iowa. Here are the results:

Mahler 2

Friday and Saturday night were the Mahler Symphony No. 2 performances at the University of Utah. They both went quite well. There were some little things here and there each night, but overall, it was a good performance. This is my first time I have had the opportunity to perform a Mahler Symphony. The experience was outstanding!

A funny side note: Kate overheard someone trying to sound intelligent and this person bombed miserably: he corrected someone saying "Mahler" and said he thought it was supposed to be pronounced "Malet" (French pronunciation). How many French Gustav's do you know?

Audition Round-Up

I have scheduled the following graduate school auditions: University of Iowa to study with Dr. Dave Gier, Florida State University to study with Dr. John Drew, and Yale to study with Scott Hartman.

I just found out an hour ago that I got invited to audition at Yale. Now I just need to buy two more plane tickets... Anyone want to donate some frequent flier miles?.......

Medieval Dances comes in the mail today

Finally, the Three Medieval Dances arrived in the mail today. I have had all the other pieces that I will be playing for my April 14 recital, but this one has taken a while to arrive as it shipped from Sweden. This piece is supposedly the oldest known piece written for the trombone (1475). Christian Lindberg edited the dances and put them in modern notation, so it is only natural that his publishing company, Editions Tarrodi be the only place it can be ordered. The price is fair, but shipping from Sweden is a little spendy. I have looked at them a little in the 30 minutes I have had since I got home. They are going to be quite fun! As well as be a nice timbre change.

Recital Info

It looks like April 14 will be my next recital. That is O.K.'d by my committee and accompanist. I just need a few signatures and then we will be golden.

The repertoire for this recital is crazy hard:
Three Medieval Dances: Anon (oldest known piece written for trombone - unaccompanied alto sackbut - I don't own a sackbut, so it will be alto trombone)
Ferdinand David: Concerto
Paul Creston: Fantasy
Richard Peaslee: Arrows of Time
and a trombone quartet with Larry Zalkind, Dr. Donn Schaefer, and Matt Laube, the other trombone TA.

It's ordered!

Apparently, Christian Lindberg WAS holding it hostage! Also, Christian Lindberg apparently has his own publishing company at Editions Tarrodi.

Thanks to Brian Thomas for the find!

Why can't I find it?

If anyone can find the "Three Medieval Dances" for unaccompanied alto trombone sheet music please email me. I have spent over an hour looking for it.

I wonder if Christian Lindberg is holding it hostage so that no one else can perform it....

University of Utah Trombone Ensemble Pictures

From University of...

World's Largest Fortune Cookie!

My oldest sister, Donetta, sent me this amazing fortune cookie as good luck for my masters recital. Well, the recital went great! Thanks!

Back to School

It was a nice break from school for the past few weeks, but tomorrow it begins one last time. This is the fourth semester on the masters degree at the UofU. I am excited to be done, but I am realizing the after five years for the undergraduate, two years goes by VERY fast. It is so strange.

The only academic class I have left is a 20th century theory class. It is the second half of the class I took last spring. It should be good.

Other highlights are my second recital, Mahler 2 with the Orchestra, and hopefully many more!