UMASS Trumpet Studio with Vince DiMartino and Jeff Holmes |
In addition to my regular orchestra work, I had a wonderful opportunity to play with Mannheim Steamroller in some concerts in New York state. I grew up listening to this unique approach to hybrid Renaissance rock in high school. Not only great music, but really great people all around.
The Christmas season is kicked off with an annual tradition of a recital in the Methuen Memorial Music Hall with good friends Richard Watson and the amazing Doug Major on the old Boston Music Hall organ. It is a magnificent space for this incredible instrument. If only we could magically raise the pitch 20 cents!
The Methuen Memorial Music Hall Organ |
The Christmas season is kicked off with an annual tradition of a recital in the Methuen Memorial Music Hall with good friends Richard Watson and the amazing Doug Major on the old Boston Music Hall organ. It is a magnificent space for this incredible instrument. If only we could magically raise the pitch 20 cents!
I was lucky enough to play a few concerts with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops at Symphony Hall this year, and the Christmas Pops shows are always a treat. Well programmed for families and it was great to hear several different folks on lead.
Julian Wachner's hands flying over the keys at Trinity Wall Street |
Majestic Brass has strong relationships with two of the best church music programs in the country. In Boston, we perform regularly with Scott Jarrett, Justin Blackwell and the amazing choir at Marsh Chapel at Boston University. Inspired music making with wonderful people in the best music program in Boston can be heard every Sunday morning on 90.9 WBUR or around the world online. At Christmas we have performed for the past few years at Trinity Church on Wall Street in New York City with Julian Wachner. A friend of nearly 20 years, he directs a program which is the center piece of the lower Manhattan music scene. We look forward to seeing our friends at both churches later this year.
UMASS Emeritus Faculty Charles Bestor wished to include his Concerto Piccolo for Trumpet and Electronics on a new disc of his electronic works. This has already been released on my first CD "End of the Matter", but given the option, I chose to record it again and in the process, revise a few issues with the written part. It is a great piece which I love to perform and it has now been released on Albany Records.
I don't often have time to enjoy listening to a concert as I am so often performing on my own. This January, I knew that I couldn't miss the opportunity to hear Hakan Hardenberger perform the Turnage Concerto live with the BSO. His Virtuoso Trumpet disc inspired me as a conservatory student to push the boundaries a bit and explore new music. If you have not heard this disc, you really must!
Post Concert with Hakan Hardenberger |
There are certain opportunities in a musical life which stand to change you forever. New perspectives, fresh insights, and a rejuvenation of the musical spirit can come from a change of scenery. I was fortunate enough to make a trip to Los Angeles which did all of these things.
Playing with a great orchestra is always a thrill, but this was a very special treat for many reasons. Sitting in a section with my good friend Chris Still for the first time in a decade was really like coming home and hearing "Mr. Clean" - Jim Wilt effortlessly sing a beautiful Mahler 6 was incredibly inspiring. Meeting new friends Mike Myers, Rob Schaer and Ryan Darke made for a wonderful hang as well. However, to see that Gustavo Dudamel really and truly IS all that he is cracked up to be, was amazing. He possesses the young charisma which one would expect from a 30 year old, but a true connection to the deepest parts of the music which one rarely sees except in old school maestros. Watching him over develop over the next 4-5 decades will be fascinating.
The Mahler Project in itself was a monumental task for the orchestras involved, but a seemingly overwhelming task for one conductor to pull off. All of the Mahler symphonies with two orchestras and one conductor, both in LA and Caracas is an enormous undertaking for the entire organization and they deserve kudos for a job well done. Principal Horn Andrew Bain and Principal Trumpet Tom Hooten were simply stellar throughout. The Simon Bolivar trumpets were inspiring with their no holds barred approach. Bravo to everyone!
Rick Baptist and Rob Schaer |
I hung out with Matt Von Roderick (Matt Shulman) to catch up on the new directions that he has taken his career. Find his videos on youtube to see for yourself!
Students from Cal State Long Beach |
Alex Baille after doing battle in Lutoslawski's Cello Concerto for the last time. |
The LA Phil tour to Caracas was nothing short of mind blowing. We arrived on the day of primary elections and were able to see the celebrations of the winner in his neighborhood from the bus from the airport. Despite the armed guards who surrounded us throughout our trip, the Venezuelan people were incredibly warm and welcoming. The music making was incredible as was the food! A trip to a sugar plantation, complete with a real south american barbecue, was our opportunity to see the rural Venezuelan countryside.
Amazing to see 1200 singers on stage for Mahler 8 |
LA Phil section for Mahler 6 |
March was a big month for the me and the UMASS Trumpet Studio. The UMASS Trumpet Ensemble advanced to the semi finals of the National Trumpet Competition with great piece written for them by my colleague Jeff Holmes. Check out the piece and their preliminary recording here:
David Miller, George Tsontakis and Silas Brown |
While my students were competing, I was premiering and recording True Colors for Trumpet and Orchestra by George Tsontakis. I wrote about the genesis of the piece in an earlier blog post, but to be brief, the Albany Symphony commissioned this work for me and I am grateful beyond words for the honor. Finally realizing the sounds which George committed to paper in the gorgeous acoustics of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall was the satisfying culmination of years of anticipation and I could not be more pleased with the work.
Thank you to David Allan Miller for investing in me, to George for writing such a beautiful and personal work, to Silas Brown for capturing the sound with his golden ears for posterity and to my colleagues in the Albany Symphony for their artistry and total commitment to the mission of this great organization. The recording should be out in a couple of years on Naxos.
Fenway Park from the field |
There are few things more American than baseball, and nowhere is it more authentic than Fenway Park. A big thrill was joining members of the Boston Pops to play the National Anthem from the field on opening day. This hallowed turf was so immaculate, so beyond perfect and greener than I could have imagined!
My orchestra season ended with the Albany Symphony's American Music Festival. This annual event is a celebration of what makes this orchestra unique. With a commissioned premier on nearly every program, the ASO has a special relationship with music of our time. Cultivating new works with commissions, fertilizing relationships with young composers and documenting the music of our time with recordings establishes the ASO as a driving force in contemporary classical music.
Michael Daugherty, Joan Tower and Aaron Kernis |
I am so grateful to host Rob Murray for allowing me to present "True Colors" at this year's International Trumpet Guild Conference. It was an honor to share the stage with one of my all time heroes, Ronald Romm, David Krauss and the incredible presence which is Andrea Giuffredi.
The ITG Annual Conference is always a great event to see friends and geek out on trumpet. This was also my first conference as a member of the Board of Directors. My hat is off to my colleagues on the board and especially President Kim Dunnick who quietly serve with such distinction and humility in service to our instrument.
Ronald Romm and Andrea Giuffredi |
The ITG Annual Conference is always a great event to see friends and geek out on trumpet. This was also my first conference as a member of the Board of Directors. My hat is off to my colleagues on the board and especially President Kim Dunnick who quietly serve with such distinction and humility in service to our instrument.
Chautauqua Auditorium - Boulder |
My summer is spent primarily in Boulder, CO as a member of the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra. Playing tons of concerts with an all-star orchestra drawn from all over the world in the Rocky Mountains for 7 weeks each summer is a real blessing. My good friend and colleague Jeff Work sounds truly spectacular on Principal and it was great to see old friends stop by to help us out as extras and just to say hello.
For a life rich with great music and great friends I am forever grateful. Looking forward to a new year with my students at UMASS and incredible colleagues in all parts of my career.