In my position at South Texas College, I conduct the large Symphonic Band, a medium-sized group called the Chamber Winds, and the small Brass Ensemble. I had done some conducting before, but never as such a large part of my daily activities. Prior to my appointment at the college, I was primarily a performer, with teaching a […]

December is sometimes called “Brass Players Get To Eat Month” because of the relative abundance of performance opportunities in general, and gigs for brass players in particular. For whatever reason, brass music is associated winter holidays. On the one hand, it’s very nice to have a few extra dollars to help fund holiday travel. On […]

The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I attended Interlochen Arts Academy and played in the High School Concert Orchestra — second in quality to the World Youth Symphony Orchestra. About halfway through the summer, I had the opportunity to challenge into the top group, and the piece we played for that audition […]

At the beginning of the month, I attended the International Trombone Festival, which was in Rochester, NY this year. Actually, the Springfield Symphony trombone section was very well represented; Sarah Paradis, our second trombonist, was also there as part of Tromboteam! for its presentation. I had the opportunity to deliver my presentation on mouthpiece buzzing, but […]