Trombone Choir Tour

Our tour to Houston this year was such a success. Performing at several high schools and then a nice meal at Cheesecake Factory to top it off.

Fall 2016 Concert Tour

The SFA Trombone Choir Concert and Dallas Tour was one of the best yet! This great group of students performed so well and also had a fantastic day, enjoying the Dallas food trucks and Museum of Art.

Dallas Food Trucks

Lunch at the Dallas Food Trucks

Trombone Choir Tour

Thanks to all of you for an excellent tour last week.  It was great to visit and play for the students at Cy-Fair and College Park high schools.  I was also impressed that so many of you braved the middle eastern lunch buffet at Dimassi’s.

 

The Big 12 Conference

Saturday morning we got up and attended our first clinic by Ronald Borror.  

Afterwards, we checked out the exhibits and then headed to lunch.  Most of us ended up at the home of the world’s best fried cheese, Spanky’s.

We headed back to the music building and warmed up for our concert.  We played great!  Here is the program we played:

Fanfare                                                                                     James Kazik

(b. 1978)

Justin Allen, conductor

Three Motets                                                                    Carlo Gesualdo

1. Ave Dulcissima Maria                                                  (1561-1613)

trans. Bradley Palmer

Justin Allen, conductor

Ecce veniet dies illa                                               Giovanni Palestrina

       (1525-1594)

             ed. Stephen Gryč

Suite in F                                                                                    Gustov Holst

II.          Song Without Words                                            (1874-1934)

III.         Song of the Blacksmith           arr. Michael Swann**

Funeral March                                                                     Edward Grieg

(1843-1907)

arr. Michael Swann**

Rainbow Connection                                   Paul Williams  (b. 1940)

 and Kenneth Ascher (b. 1944)

Danny Williams**, conductor/arranger

Three Miniatures for a Giant for Robert Deahl          Richard Birk

I.            Peer Pleasure                                                   (b. 1960)

II.          Lite Motive

III.         Bob’s Rondo a la Birk

 

**SFA Trombone Choir Member

Stephen F. Austin State University

PERFORMERS

 

*Justin Allen, Klein

Michael Anderson, Sugarland

Kelly Barker, Rye

++David Carlsen, Fort Worth

Ashley Colgrove, Mesquite

Webb Gardner, Katy

Lacy LaForce, Big Sandy

+Megan Massarello, Cypress

Daniel Ramos, Fort Worth

David Robbins, Rusk

Ashley Scambray, Cypress

+Michael Swann, Plano

Jordan Torres, Anahuac

Dwight Watson, Wylie

Danny Williams, Dayton

+Samantha Williams, Mesquite

The concert went great!  (except for that constant annoying Bolero solo from the exhibits in the background) We had a lot of positive feedback, even from Viento Sur!

Dr. Scott played a solo in the afternoon: Colloquy by Goldstein to kick off the faculty recital.  Susan Wass accompanied.

Dinner was at Gardski’s Loft on Broadway:

We were blissfully unaware at that point of the incredible performance we were about to hear.  We headed back to the music building for a concert by the Argentinian Trombone Quartet, Viento Sur.  They had been at SFA in 2010.  They were remarkable then, but their playing has risen to even new heights.  They were astounding! After the concert, Kelly, Danny, and Dr. Scott hung with them at the jazz jam.  It was great fun!

We all stayed up too late!–but still made it to another clinic by Dr. Rose about doubling:

We headed back to DFW, dropping some students, and then on to Lubbock.  Fortunately, everyone got home safe.

Made it to Lubbock!

The Trombone Choir met in Dallas for the first time in five weeks.  We played a morning concert at John Horn H S–where Sam went to school.  The choir played really well–especially considering that we were playing that concert after a five week break wtihout a rehearsal!  The band directors, Mr.Todd Burke, and Mr. Scott Rives were very welcoming and supportive.  We played a great concert and then talked to the HS students for a LONG time.  They had many great questions.

Afterwards, we headed to the Ft. Worth zoo!   It was the perfect downtime between concerts.  It was really cold, so we spent a lot of time in the primate house where Danny became the target for an over-aggressive gorilla.  

We then played a concert at Southwest HS in Ft. Worth.  We played well and had a great question and answer session with the HS students.  Mr. Dunn has consistently turned out awesome students with the best tone quality I’ve heard–yes, that’s you David C. and Daniel.  Don’t get a big head.  After this concert, we headed to the Ft. Worth iconic restaurant, Joe T. Garcia’s.  We had an awesome relaxing dinner.

Afterwards, we drove to Waxahachie where we stayed in a great La Quinta right by the HS.  We got up and played a concert for Waxahachie HS and middle school.  Rich Armstrong and Jon Hinton were very welcoming to us as were the students–we got a standing ovation.  We were happy, had been a little intimidated since they had been named the 4A honor band of Texas this year.  The HS school students mingled with ours, and I met several very promising trombonists.

We headed towards Lubbock.  Some of my students were shocked at how flat and desolate W. Texas appears. 

Made it to Lubbock just in time for the opening conference concert.  Afterwards, a mass trombone choir sight read some new pieces.  Dr. Lias’ Sequoia sounded great with a 40+ choir.  Arrived at our hotel around 11 p.m.  It’s awesome–who’s your friend?

Trombone Choir Performs at Big 12

The SFA Trombone Choir is ready for our Dallas/Fort Worth tour and our performance at the Big 12 Trombone Conference in Lubbock.  Here is our itinerary:

Trombone Choir Itinerary 2012-Final

Wednesday, January 11,

3-5 p.m. These students should check in to their dorms at SFA:

Michael Anderson, Megan Massarello, Jordan Torres, Dwight Watson, Danny Williams

Thursday, January 12

 

5:45, yes, a.m.—Load vans in front of music building.  Be dressed in nice pants/collared shirt!!

6:00, Leave Nac with: Allen, Anderson, Gardner, LaForce, Massarello, Robbins, Scambray, Swann, Torres, Watson, D. Williams

9:30— Meet: Barker, Carlsen, Colgrove, Ramos, S. Williams,

Concert: Horn High School, 3300 East Cartwright Rd.; Mesquite, TX 75181-2530

11:30 ish Ft. Worth Zoo

3:15 Leave zoo

4:00—Concert: Southwest High School; 4100 Altamesa Blvd; Fort Worth, TX 765133-5499

Dinner TBA

La Quinta Inn & Suites Waxahachie; 311 Stadium Dr; Waxahachie, TX 75165; Phone: 1-972-937-5525

Friday, January 13

9:15 Leave hotel

10:00 a.m. Concert—Waxahachie HS, 1000 HWY 77 N, Waxahachie, TX 75165; 972.923.4600 ext. 102

7 p.m. Registration-Big 12 Trombone Conference TTU

7:30-Concerts/Mass Trombone Choir

Overton Hotel and Conference Center

2322 Mac Davis Lane

Lubbock, TX 79401

806-776-7000, 888-776-7001

Saturday, January 14

8:40 Leave hotel for conference

2:30 SFA Trombone Choir concert, Hemmle Recital Hall, TTU music building

…conference continues until 9 p.m.

9:00—Jazz night at the Lantern 3502 Slide Rd. (opt.)

Sunday, January 15

9:40 Leave/check out of hotel

10:00 clinic

11:00 Leave Lubbock for home

6:00 p.m. estimated arrival in DFW.  (We will drop students anywhere along I-20 as needed to meet your rides or maybe leave personal cars at University and I 20 — in the shopping center with Blue Mesa grill? Better idea anyone?)

11:00 p.m. ETA Nacogdoches