2011 Update

2011 Trombone Studio News:

This semester has been a busy one for the trombone studio. On February 11th members of the Ithaca College Trombone Troupe went to Fayetteville-Manlius near Syracuse, NY to do a series of concerts and clinics for the high school and the two middle schools. On Friday, March 4th, members of the Trombone Troupe will once again be doing a concert and clinics in the Greene Central Schools. These concerts and clinics are especially important to the public school instrumental music teachers as they typically have a difficult time recruiting trombonists for their programs. In virtually all cases, teachers have reported a huge increase in beginning trombonists the following year.

On Saturday, February 19th the Trombone Troupe sponsored its annual Trombone Day here in the School of Music. Members of the Trombone Troupe directed warm-ups, taught private lessons, and performed with their respective students throughout the day’s activities. The twenty-five students, who came from as far away as Buffalo, NY, ranged in level from beginner through high school. They were divided into three trombone ensembles based on their level of experience. There was also an adult level ensemble, which included Dr. Reynolds and several area teachers and amateur trombonists, one a New York State Supreme Court Judge. A short concert was presented at 12:15 PM where each ensemble played a few pieces and then the entire group, including Trombone Troupe members, students and adults joined for the grand finale. Each participating student received breakfast, snack, lunch and a t-shirt. The annual workshop continues to be supported strongly each year by area music teachers.

Within the trombone studio there are currently three existing and active trombone quartets. Last semester, the Lake Effect Trombone Quartet, made up of sophomore Josh Zimmer, and juniors Jeff Dunn, Michael Nave, and Eddie Steenstra, submitted a CD and application to the Courtois Trombone Quartet Competition, as part of the 2nd Annual Fort Worth Trombone Summit. They were recently notified that they were selected to be one of three finalists for this prestigious award. They will travel to Fort Worth, Texas on April 8th and compete with two other trombone quartets (from Northwestern University and North Texas State University) in the finals on April 9th for the first prize of $1000. In this unique finals competition, the judges select the overall winner, but the audience also selects its favorite quartet independent of the judge’s decision. They will also attend master classes by Mark Lawrence, former Principal Trombonist of the San Francisco Symphony and Darren McHenry, Bass Trombonist of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra while there. Their trip is being funded in part by grants from the Provost’s Office, the School of Music and the Trombone Troupe.