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Christian Jones, bass and contrabass trombone, Opera North, UK and bass and contrabass trombone tutor, Royal Northern College of Music, UK, has recently completed his orchestral/opera excerpt series for bass trombone.

The instructional videos include 63 excerpts on both the undergraduate and postgraduate syllabi of the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester, UK), plus a further 17 (e.g. Pines of Rome)

His goal was to create a study aid for his students in Manchester by offering a demonstration of each excerpt based on his position of having performed the lesser-known orchestral works in a radio orchestra (BBCNOW, Cardiff UK 2001-2002), the big symphonies in a globetrotting London orchestra (Philharmonia Orchestra, 2002-2012) and the operas in his current position at Opera North (Leeds, UK).

The link to the videos can be found here.

BECOME A DISTINGUISHED STAMPS SCHOLAR!

 

FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC ANNOUNCES DECEMBER 1, 2019 DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS STAMPS BRASS QUINTET

 

Five Outstanding Young Musicians To Be Awarded Full Music Merit Scholarships Beginning Fall 2020

 

(Coral Gables, FL—MAY 21, 2019) The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami has announced applications are being accepted to audition for the Stamps Brass Quintet.  Deadline to apply is December 1, 2019 to be eligible for the fall semester of 2020. In addition to qualifying through the intensive audition process, the five musicians to be selected (trumpet, trumpet, horn,  trombone, tuba) must meet the academic requirements of the University of Miami. The STAMPS Scholarship provides:

 

• 100% tuition, fees room, and board covered
• Career guidance by award-winning Frost faculty
• Mentoring by prominent guest artists
• Support for concert tours and study abroad as a quintet
• Performance opportunities with the Frost Symphony and Henry Mancini Institute Orchestras.
• Participation opportunities in recording sessions, film sessions, television specials, and cross-genre programing.
• Learn through the Frost Method®, which fosters diverse life and career skills.

 

To apply go to admission.music@miami.edu.

For further information via stamps.frost@miami.edu.

 

Frost School of Music’s Instrumental Performance Professor of Viola and Artistic Coordinator of the Frost School’s Stamps Distinguished Ensemble Scholars, Jodi Levitz states: “Combining the unique Frost Method Experiential Music Curriculum with instrumental instruction and ensemble coaching at the highest level, the Frost Stamps Ensemble program offers the most exciting musical education opportunity in the country.”

The Stamps Ensemble Scholarships began in 2013 and there are 47 highly talented and academically superior scholars with 19 currently enrolled.  In addition to the Stamps Brass Quintet, Stamps Distinguished Ensembles include the Stamps Jazz Quintet 2021, the Stamps String Quartet 2022 and the Stamps Woodwind Quintet 2023.

The Stamps Ensemble Scholarship at the University of Miami Frost School for Musicis equal to the total cost for tuition and fees; on-campus double room and 20-meal per week board plan; for each academic year attended.  This scholarship is funded from University merit aid, University need-based aid, Federal need-based aid, State of Florida merit and/or need-based aid for which the recipient qualifies and from the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation.  Half of the award is applied toward fall semester expenses; the other half is applied toward spring semester expenses. The scholarship is renewable for four academic years (eight consecutive semesters), or such shorter time required to complete the baccalaureate degree.  The Frost School of Music and Stamps Family Charitable Foundation provides enrichment funds to Stamps Distinguished Ensembles for participation in summer festivals and special residencies.

The trombone world is saddened to learn about the passing of the renowned trombonist Victor Sumerkin.

Victor Sumerkin was born on January 3, 1933, in the village of Volkovo, Tver Region, in a simple working-class family. In 1945, in post-war Leningrad, he saw Sun Valley Serenade, and the film determined his fate. He decided to become a trombonist like Glenn Miller. He began learning at the Leningrad Palace of Pioneers. In those days, many children wanted to learn to play brass instruments. Then he was enrolled to a music college, where he was taught by Gershkovich (Pyotr Volkov’s student) who gave the young man the basic skills. After graduating from college in 1952, he became a student of the Leningrad Conservatory in Korshunov’s class and graduated brilliantly in 1957. Then there was a postgraduate course supervised by Mikhail Buyanovsky (Vitaly Buyanovsky’s father), which he completed in 1963. Immediately after graduating from the Conservatory, he won several competitions: Leningrad competition, all-Union competition and international one in Moscow, where he had the second prize. Victor Sumerkin’s performing activity started with the Mariinsky Orchestra in 1957, and then, from 1959, for 30 years he played with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. As its musician, Viktor Sumerkin played all solos in various symphonic and opera works led by outstanding conductors of the time. In recognition of his performing skills, many Soviet and foreign composers dedicated their concerts and compositions to Victor Sumerkin, including A. Nesterov, V. Uspensky, O. Khromushin, O. Oblov, A. Kotienko, D. Uber. Victor Sumerkin successfully combined his performing work with teaching, having started in 1956 at a music college. His distinguishing features were his deep practical experience and his wide knowledge in the matters of methodology and pedagogics, the richness and diversity of the repertoire which he used to teach his students. His students participate in numerous concerts, seminars and competitions. The evidence of the great results of Victor Sumerkin’s work is that starting from 1963, his students become laureates and winners in many competition in which they participated in. Today, his students play in many leading orchestras in Russia and all over the world. Along with practical activities, Victor Sumerkin engaged in intense research and methodological work. He made a significant contribution to the development of pedagogics and methodology. He is the author of books A course of Trombone Playing, Trombone, as well as a large number of articles, which appeared in Russian and foreign publishing houses.

For his pedagogical achievements, Victor Sumerkin received a prestigious award from ITA (International Trombone Association) in 2003.

For his contribution to Russian music, Victor Sumerkin was awarded the honorary title of People’s artist of Russia. He was also awarded medals For Valorous Labour, Veteran of Labor, the Order of Honor and a Badge of Honor.Victor Sumerkin passed away on May 12, 2019.

Eric Wallace is a doctoral student at the University of North Texas, and a researcher with the Texas Center for Performing Arts Health. As part of his dissertation, he is conducting a survey to investigate a performance problem that is experienced by some brass instrumentalists. You can find more information about him, and his previous research on this and other topics, at the Texas Center for Performing Arts Health.

Several influential brass instrument teachers have noted working with students who experience a freezing sensation when starting a note on a wind instrument. Arnold Jacobs used the term “Valsalva maneuver” when discussing this problem, saying it is not uncommon among his students. Jacobs described this problem as an increase in internal air pressure, closure in the throat, and a choking sensation. Other academic articles reported wind players who experienced “musical stuttering,” which they described as a perceived tightening of the chest and throat muscles, a sense of “locking up,” and subsequent delayed, explosive, or rapidly repeated first note. However, little is actually known about this problem, how it is experienced by brass musicians, or if there are other ways in which this problem manifests.

The purpose of this survey is to define and characterise this problem in brass players. If you know any brass instrumental musicians, teachers, or students over 18 years who have experienced this problem, please send them this link and announcement. Eric would also appreciate sending this information to anyone who could help this survey reach as many impacted musicians as possible.

This survey will ask questions about your musical background, musical habits, musical experiences, and health history. No personal data will be collected by this survey. Please allow approximately 20 minutes for completion. Feel free to contact Eric at the email address below with any questions at any time.

Eric Wallace, MM
ericwallace@my.unt.edu

Click here to participate in the survey.

Scott Reeves, Professor of Music at City College of New York, freelance composer and trombonist (specializing in the alto valve trombone), recently spent three weeks teaching and performing in Japan. Pictured here on alto valve trombone with the students and faculty at Shobi University in Tokyo, his music for big band was also performed by the Global Jazz Orchestra in Osaka and Kobe, and the Advanced Music Ensemble in Fukoshima.

Trombone Teaching Assistant (MM or DMA).

For MM students, 10-hours a week including performing in a large ensemble and chamber ensemble as assigned (or two large ensembles). DMA students, up to 20 hours, with increased stipend.

Students have the opportunity to study on a rotational basis with Mark Davidson, Principal Trombone of the Utah Symphony; and Donn Schaefer, Professor of Trombone, taking lessons with both faculty members each semester.

Interested students should contact Professor Donn Schaefer at: d.schaefer@music.utah.edu

Listed application dates on the website are somewhat flexible.

Auditions can be arranged to allow for a free lesson, and to provide time to visit ensembles and see the state-of-the-art facilities in the School of Music.

The University of Utah School of Music is located two miles east of downtown Salt Lake City and is a core component of the vibrant entrepreneurial metropolitan area, a region consistently rated among the best places to live in the U.S.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP IN MUSIC/TROMBONE

2019-2020 Academic Year

Open to  qualified degree candidates. Assistantships are awarded by the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Department of Music based on application and audition. SWOSU offers MM degrees in Performance, Music Education, and Music Therapy.

DUTIES
-Assist with weekly trombone studio teaching, chamber music, and studio class
-Serve as assistant director of the trombone choir
-Assist with guest artist events
-Additional duties as assigned

DETAILS
-Annual stipend of $5600
-Tuition waiver
-Renewable for up to two years pending satisfactory progress towards graduation

Interested applicants should complete the online application (below) and contact
Dr. Philip Martinson to schedule an audition and interview.

APPLY
To the university: http://www.swosu.edu/admissions/apply/
To the GTA position: https://jobs.swosu.edu/postings/2523

CONTACT
Dr. Philip Martinson
Assistant Professor of Music
Acting Principal Trombone—Oklahoma City Philharmonic
www.PhilipMartinson.com
philip.martinson@swosu.edu

Deadline for audition and application: March 1, 2019

Trombone Teaching Assistant (M.M.)

10-hour assistantship that includes performing with the Graduate Brass Quintet, teaching non-major applied lessons, coaching undergraduate chamber music, and classroom duties.
This position includes a generous stipend, full tuition remission, and health insurance.

Application Deadline: February 1, 2019
Prospective graduate students should contact Professor Greg Spiridopoulos

http://www.umass.edu/music/member/gregory-spiridopoulos

About UMass Amherst:
As Massachusetts’s flagship campus, UMass Amherst is a nationally ranked public research university. Located 90 miles from Boston, 175 miles from New York City, and 53 miles from Tanglewood Music Center, the campus provides a rich cultural environment in a rural setting. The Music Program features 11 large instrumental ensembles, 6 vocal ensembles, chamber ensembles, and student solo & studio recital series. More than 200 concerts are presented annually, featuring UMass faculty and guest artists from around the world. In addition, Amherst is ranked as one of America’s best college towns.

Jazz trombone virtuoso, Urban Clifford “Urbie” Green, 92, passed away on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018, at Saucon Valley Manor, Hellertown. He was the loving husband of actress and singer Catherine “Kathy” (Prestigiacomo) Green. Born Aug. 8, 1926, in Mobile, Alabama, son of the late Robert Eugene and Aurora (Blanche) Green, Urbie is known as the “trombonist’s trombonist” and is considered to be among the elite of the world’s trombone players, due to not only his mastery of the instrument, including his smooth, warm, mellow tone, but also his lyrical phrasing and beautiful solos.

By the time he was 16, he was working professionally with Tommy Reynolds’ band. Then followed years touring with big bands led by Jan Savitt, Frankie Carle, Gene Krupa and Woody Herman. In October 1950, Urbie became part of Herman’s Thundering Herd, and in 1954, won the Down Beat International Critics Award for “New Star.”

Urbie became one of the most sought-after trombonists for recording and club work in New York City. He has recorded with Gene Krupa, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Pearl Bailey, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Barbra Streisand, Perry Como, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, J.J. Johnson, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Burt Bacharach, Buck Clayton and Herbie Mann.

He is a multiple winner of the Most Valuable Player Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In addition, he performed at major jazz festivals — including the annual Celebration of the Arts (COTA) in Delaware Water Gap — as well as concert halls and the White House. In a performance at Lincoln Center with an all-star band led by Benny Carter, he was invited to perform in a special tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, and later in Thailand, with the Benny Carter all-stars, in a private performance for the King of Thailand. He also placed high importance on enriching the music community through countless clinics for students at high schools and colleges throughout the world.

As part of his solo career, Urbie recorded more than 25 original albums from the early 1950s to the late 1990s, including classics such as “Blues and Other Shades of Green” (1955, Paramount), “Let’s Face the Music and Dance” (1957, RCA), “The Persuasive Trombone of Urbie Green” (1960 ,Command), “21 Trombones” (1967, Project 3), “Urbie Green’s Big Beautiful Band” (1974, Project 3), and “The Fox” (1976, CTI).

Some of his popular recordings include “Here’s That Rainy Day,” “Stars Fell on Alabama,” “Let’s Face the Music and Dance,” “The Flight of the Bumble Bee,” “Bein’ Green,” “Blue Flame,” “You Are So Beautiful,” “Quadrabones,” “Another Star,” “Sing,” “Perdido,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Stardust,” “Ave Maria” and “Ana Luiza.”

Urbie can be seen and heard in the movie “The Benny Goodman Story” (1956, Universal), starring Steve Allen and Donna Reed. Shortly afterwards, he fronted the Benny Goodman Orchestra for a three-month tour. In 1995, he was elected into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.

Urbie is survived by his wife Catherine “Kathy” and their sons Jesse and Casey, as well as Jim, Urbie’s son from his first marriage. Other survivors include his sister Beverly (Pat) Simpson and several grandchildren.

A private funeral service will be held on Sunday, Jan. 20, at Bensing-Thomas Funeral Home, 401 N. Fifth St., Stroudsburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Bensing-Thomas Funeral Home.

Bensing-Thomas Funeral Home

401 N. Fifth St., Stroudsburg

bensing-thomasfuneralhome.com

The International Trombone Festival is accepting applications to be a student worker through January 15. This is an opportunity to attend the ITF free of charge, with lodging and a meal stipend included. Jobs range from working the exposition hall to coordinating with Artists backstage. It’s a memorable experience, and a fantastic opportunity for college students to both build their professional resume and be at the center of the world’s largest yearly gathering of trombonists. This year’s festival is at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, positioned five hours or less from all the major cities of the US Midwest: Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. Contact Chris Van Hof for more information, or visit the ITF website at www.trombonefestival.net.