holy good couple of days
Well, it has been a great couple of days.
I spent them in Sioux City at the Siouxland trombone festival. I know that sounds lame, and it probably is, but I had a lot of fun. The guest artists who played a concert and gave a couple master classes was a trombone quartet, the Trombones de Costa Rica. They floored me multiple times. The concert was absolutely fantastic. They played standard quartet rep, plus an arrangement of Bill Tell, plus original Latin music. It was amazing... not only their technique but their musicality and their whole approach. Apparently they'll be at UNL for a mini-residency next February. That'll be great. Then next year at this festival Joe Alessi is going to be the guest artist... I'm definitely going to get a lesson with him.
The final concert tonight was alright. The high school choir blew ass... most of the high schoolers were little twits. The college choir was better, but the part of the concert I enjoyed was 1. when the Costa Rica guys came out and played a few tunes. That's the only time I've ever seen an encore demanded and played in the middle of a concert. I also enjoyed 2. when the UNL choir played alone. We were by far the best choir there and the audience really dug what we were playing. It feels good to be a part of something good, where everyone cares about what they're doing. Tonight's performance with trombone choir affirmed that. When people really try their hardest and work, ability level (to a point) doesn't seem to matter as much.
Anyway, tomorrow (later today) is the final competition for the Shildneck. I'm going over to my accompanist's house at 10am for a run-through, then the compy is at Wesleyan at 1pm. Cross your fingers, people, I could use $400 (first prize).
Latahz
I spent them in Sioux City at the Siouxland trombone festival. I know that sounds lame, and it probably is, but I had a lot of fun. The guest artists who played a concert and gave a couple master classes was a trombone quartet, the Trombones de Costa Rica. They floored me multiple times. The concert was absolutely fantastic. They played standard quartet rep, plus an arrangement of Bill Tell, plus original Latin music. It was amazing... not only their technique but their musicality and their whole approach. Apparently they'll be at UNL for a mini-residency next February. That'll be great. Then next year at this festival Joe Alessi is going to be the guest artist... I'm definitely going to get a lesson with him.
The final concert tonight was alright. The high school choir blew ass... most of the high schoolers were little twits. The college choir was better, but the part of the concert I enjoyed was 1. when the Costa Rica guys came out and played a few tunes. That's the only time I've ever seen an encore demanded and played in the middle of a concert. I also enjoyed 2. when the UNL choir played alone. We were by far the best choir there and the audience really dug what we were playing. It feels good to be a part of something good, where everyone cares about what they're doing. Tonight's performance with trombone choir affirmed that. When people really try their hardest and work, ability level (to a point) doesn't seem to matter as much.
Anyway, tomorrow (later today) is the final competition for the Shildneck. I'm going over to my accompanist's house at 10am for a run-through, then the compy is at Wesleyan at 1pm. Cross your fingers, people, I could use $400 (first prize).
Latahz