2024 ITG Conference Report - Day 3 - Thursday, May 30
The 48th Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference - Anaheim, California (USA)
Special Daily Report • Compiled by Peter Wood
Photos by Michael Anderson, Jason Harrelson, Daniel Kelly, and Steve Stricker
Thursday, May 30, 2024
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Warm-Up Session with Noa Miller
Dr. Noa Miller delivered an exceptional warm-up session before a room filled with eager trumpeters seeking to enrich their morning routines and explore fresh ideas. The session was thoughtfully structured into two segments, focusing first on mental preparations—guiding participants on what to cover and how to approach material—and then on practical implementation through playing. Key highlights of the class included insights into Miller’s experience with different age groups, strategies for crafting a systematic morning routine, and engaging class discussions that illuminated the finer points of her presentation. Her innovative approach to adapting methods to suit various playing styles infused the room with energy, leaving each attendee with newfound perspectives and ideas to share with others. (Benjamin Dubbert)
Scott Hagarty Warm-Up Session - Breaking the Cycle of Boredom: Introducing Creativity into Your Warm-Up Routine
Scott Hagarty made no delay in helping attendees start their day by suggesting the inclusion of various elements and fundamentals into their personal warm-up routines. Beginning with mouthpiece buzzing, Hagarty emphasized the importance of finding the core of the buzz sound, which he demonstrated by playing some sirens in a call-and-response style with the crowd. Following was a progression of low, slow long tones on the trumpet, along with controlled flexibility exercises, Clarke’s chromatic studies, and articulated scale studies. Although each of these fundamentals are important, Hagarty encouraged the audience to incorporate diversity into their warmups because every day is different. Volunteers were asked to choose from a random list of notes to compose a flexibility exercise, which created a difficult intervallic challenge. Finally, Hagarty brought up five participants to improvise, demonstrating that we can construct a fun, innovative, and refreshing warm-up routine. (Peter Nionakis)
Stanley Curtis and Robert Apple - Keyed Trumpet: Beyond the Concertos of Haydn and Hummel
The Colorado State University Baroque Trumpet Ensemble, led by Stanley Curtis and in their first year of existence, opened the presentation with the performance of a collection of four fanfares. The lecture recital that followed was a joint effort by performers Stanley Curtis on keyed trumpet and Tim Burns on piano, along with trumpeter/researcher Robert Apple. They provided useful information about lesser-known works composed specifically for the keyed trumpet. The works composed by Josef Fiala, Trenkivitz, Agostino Belloli, Josef Kail, Joseph Hoffner, and Guiseppe Verdi were mostly in the Classical style and written for keyed trumpet pitched in D. The most difficult piece on the program was Joseph Hoffner’s Introduction et Polonaise, and it was the only work on the program to have been published before the twentieth century. All the works on the program are available in a newly-published modern edition. (Scott Hagarty)
Flint Angeroth Franks - The Serbian Classical Trumpet Tradition
This session began with a vibrant performance by the Southern Arkansas University Trumpet Ensemble of “Let Life be Joyful” by Serbian composer Aleksandar S. Vujic. Dr. Franks then outlined the importance of the Serbian trumpet tradition by discussing its history, solo repertoire, and pedagogy from these skilled performers and teachers. The historical overview began with explaining the vocal tradition of the Orthodox Church and ended with addressing two of the principal trumpet teachers of the 21st century - Mladen Djordjević and Nenad Marković. Franks then covered a handful of composers ranging from the well-known (Dr. Dragan S. Jovanović) to the more obscure (Dorde Tošić). Finally, Franks traced the history of trumpet pedagogy in Serbia, naming two of the more influential teachers from the twentieth century. This extremely thorough research presentation holds promising applications for increasing diversity and new pedagogical tools in the greater trumpet community. (Spencer Brand)
Non-Pro Reading Session with Julia Bell
The ITG Non-Pro Player Committee was excited to offer a new session this year, treating musicians with an opportunity to read trumpet ensemble music just for fun. Led by Dr. Julia Bell, attendees sight read music including Erik Morales’s “Within Sacred Walls,” Eric Ewazen’s “Prelude and Fugue,” Chidester’s arrangement of “Flintstones Chorale and Fugue,” Malcolm Arnold’s “A Hoffnung Fanfare,” and everyone’s favorite, Leroy Anderson’s “Bugler’s Holiday.” With a completely filled Conference room, this session is sure to be a “must attend” event at next year’s conference. (Sarah Stoneback)
San Diego Symphony Trumpet Section
The San Diego Symphony trumpet section, consisting of Chris Smith, Jonah Levy, Ray Nowak, and Tim Seager, provided a unique and entertaining session as they explained and demonstrated to the audience their take on section sound. The quartet performed not only such movie excerpts as such as “Star Wars,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Apollo 13,” “Indiana Jones,” and “All that Jazz,” but also standard orchestral repertoire like Bartok’s Concerto for Orchestra and Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony while changing instruments and mutes to hear how the section sound changes. The audience was very engaged throughout this process, offering many questions and much input. (Jacinda Ripley)
Kana Madarame recital
Performing in her first ITG Conference, Kana Madarame displayed a clear and smooth sound while conveying a truly musical performance. The opening piece by Masamicz Amano consisted of musical characters that were brought to life by her playing and collaboration with Hickman. Madarame established a kind and inviting rapport with the audience, creating a peaceful setting for a beautiful display of music. Fukushima’s Interlude began with a meditative character and showed a velvety side of her sound. Nishizawa’s Sonata is cast in three movements with interjection of ornamentation in the first and last movements. The second movement is a contrasting lyrical passage that continued to highlight Madarame’s musical expression. A return of celebration and playfulness came with the segue into the third movement. “The Garden of Mtio,” a world premier, is a reflective piece inspired by the city of Mito, which is Anaheim’s sister city in Japan. (Will Koehler )
Research Room Presentations
The Research Room Presentations unveiled new and exciting research to the trumpet community. The series kicked off with Allison McSwain’s in-depth exploration of Robert Starer’s solo trumpet compositions, providing attendees with a comprehensive overview of his three works for trumpet. Juan Luis de la Torre Moral delivered a cutting-edge presentation on the influence of the mouthpiece “gap,” offering fresh insights into its effects on the instrument's sound production. Rebecca Wertenberger shifted the focus to the orchestral realm with her presentation, “Re-Examining the Relevance of Orchestral Trumpet Excerpts,” advocating for the inclusion of contemporary literature in audition repertoire. The session concluded with Marcos Jose Ferreira Rodrigues’s study, which centered on studies for trumpet derived from Dobrados. This research will result in a method book tailored to student musicians, highlighting Brazilian march tunes. For more information from the session, please visit the Research Room website (http://trumpetguild.org/resources/research-room). (Benjamin Dubbert)
2023 Carmine Caruso Winner Concert - Noah Halpern
Kicking off this recital was the Loyola University Trumpet Ensemble from New Orleans, Louisiana, who delivered a lively and electrifying performance of two highly involved compositions by Erik Morales, “Cityscapes” and “Divertimento in Blue.”
The Divertimento created a seamless transition into the musical journey through the music of Noah Halpern, the winner of the 2023 Carmine Caruso Jazz Competition. Approaching the stage with swagger and ease, Halpern instantly had the attention of the many trumpet enthusiasts in attendance. His compositions covered a wide range of styles, each with their own unique backstory and inspiration. From intricate lines and driving rhythms to dazzling ornamentation and lush vibrato, Halpern had the audience wrapped around his finger. The burning rhythm section heightened the experience even further, taking Halpern’s compositions to another level. Exhibiting a heart full of gratitude and thanksgiving, Halpern could not be more deserving of this prestigious title. (Peter Nionakis)
Chamber Competition Finals
Thursday afternoon began with the final round of the Chamber Music division of The Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition. The first contestants, the Fresno State Trumpet Ensemble, opened with a great performance of Kevin McKee’s “Into the Blue,” showcasing the highly technical and musical elements of the piece. The second finalists were the Baylor Gold Trumpet Ensemble, performing an arrangement of the music of Ernest Williams with wonderful balance, blend, character, and joy. The final contestants were the North Atlantic Brass, a brass quintet from the Royal Danish Academy of Music. They performed works by Anthony Plog and Vagn Holmboe, highlighting their strengths both as strong individual soloists and as a cohesive ensemble in both technical and lyrical settings. All the finalists set a high bar for great chamber music performance and artistry. (Flint Angeroth Franks)
Tribute to Tom Stevens
With Edward Carroll, Hakan Hardenberger, Anthony Plog, Mario Guarneri, Tom Dambly, Dan Rosenboom, Aaron Smith, Steph Richards, Bob Malone, and Clement Saunier
The panel agreed that Tom Stevens hated the idea of a tribute, but the purpose of the session was to inform younger generations of his legacy. Each panelist began by reminiscing about how they first met Tom. These stories showed several sides of Stevens, including his generosity and the approach of ears over eyes. His fondness for jazz was also emphasized, which was capped by a beautiful rendition of “My Funny Valentine” by Hakan Hardenberger at the end of the presentation. Stevens had a clear ability to see in other people things that they had not yet realized. “Tom had a way of taking you to the top of the mountain to places you didn’t know you could reach.” The session continued with two musical tributes: a breathtaking performance of “Sequenza X” by Berio, performed by Clément Saunier, and a sparkling performance of “Triangles One.” (Will Koehler )
Jazz Improvisation Competition Finals
The final round of this year’s Jazz Improvisation division of The Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition was riveting from start to finish. The competition was coordinated by Dr. George Carpten IV, and the judging panel included Bria Skonberg, Noah Halpern, and Vince DiMartino. The first competitor was Aaron Ouellette, who began his set on flugelhorn, playing tuneful solos on “Like Someone in Love.” He then performed “Dolphin Dance” and ended his set with a short, yet flashy, cadenza that led into “We See.” The second competitor was Kellin Hanas, who began her set with “Dolphin Dance” and then contrasted that tune with the incredibly bluesy “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South.” Her set ended with an original tune, “Here I Am,” which featured intricate rhythmic interplay with the rhythm section. The final competitor was Kyle Pogline, who began his set unaccompanied before moving into the head of “Star Eyes.” He used a cadenza at the end of the first tune to transition seamlessly into “Dolphin Dance” and then ended his set with “I’ll Remember April.” All the finalists demonstrated a very high level of creativity and musicality in all aspects of playing throughout their sets. (Spencer Brand)
Allen Vizzutti Recital
The trumpet ensemble from Duquesne University played an exciting rendition of Erik Morales’s “Conquest” to open the afternoon recital in a ballroom with a standing-room-only crowd. Although Vizzutti’s recital included blazing tempos, enormous intervals, rapid multiple tonguing, and other advanced techniques, the true highlight was Vizzutti’s artistry and compositional prowess. Collaborating with pianist Laura Vizzutti (his wife) and violinist Gabriella Vizzutti (his daughter), he gave the audience a thoughtfully curated recital of all original compositions. “Brum Zoom,” a piece composed for Fabio Brum, incorporated sweeping melodies and extended harmonies and ended with a climactic cadenza. “Aurora Borealis” was composed of quartal harmonies depicting the colors of the vast night sky, including percussion and twinkling in the piano’s upper register. “Luciernaga,” the Spanish word for “firefly,” was an exciting bolero. Sonata IV, a three-movement work, showed the sound of a playful, sensitive American master composer. “Love and Tears for Ukraine” is a gorgeous and moving tribute that Vizzutti premiered with the Dallas Symphony. “Stars Drifting By” is a fun piece for trumpet and electronics featuring a sonic time-warp, traversing from psychedelic to funky-groovy. Throughout the recital, Vizzutti honored his wife, Laura, of 37 years, as well as his daughter, Gabriella, who played percussion and violin on various works. On the final composition, a minor blues entitled “Laura’s Blues,” they were joined by Vincent DiMartino, and their long friendship and mutual admiration were an inspiration to all in attendance. (Nick Volz)
Evening Concert - Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah
The trumpet ensemble from Arkansas State University opened Thursday evening’s headliner concert with Eric Morales’s “X1.” The five trumpet players filled the hall with brilliant sounds, warming up the audience well for the excitement to follow.
The evening then proceeded with the announcements of the winners of two divisions of The 2024 ITG Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition. George Carpten, IV, announced the winners of the Jazz Improvisation division. Third-place honors were awarded to Aaron Ouellette; Kyle Pogline placed second; and Kellin Hanas won the first prize. Marc Reed then announced the winners of the Chamber Music division. Second place was awarded to the Fresno State Trumpet Ensemble, and the North Atlantic Brass Quintet and the Baylor Gold Trumpet Ensemble tied for first place.
ITG President Ryan Gardner then announced the featured artist for the evening concert - Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah. The ensemble opened the concert with a powerful rock fusion song entitled “Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightening.” This piece featured Chief Adjuah on vocals and his self-developed double-sided electric harp, called the “Adjuah Bow.” The second piece, “Adrenaline,” also featured Chief on vocals and the Adjuah Bow with a hip-hop-funk-fusion feel, accompanied by a three-piece combo consisting of Ele Howell on drums, Cecil Alexander on electric guitar, and Ryoma Takenaga on electric bass.
The ensemble proceeded with “I Own the Night,” with a rock-fusion feel. The multi-instrumentalist was then featured on his uniquely designed trumpet, an inverted flugelhorn with shepherd’s crooks, and flute player, Elena Pinderhughes. The ensemble took turns soloing - first a drum solo, followed by Chief on the trumpet, and, lastly, a solo on the electric guitar.
The ensemble changed the pace with a laid-back, soulful groove tune, “Song She Never Heard,” which began with a lyrical duet with Chief on trumpet and Elena Pinderhughes on flute. That was followed by “The Coronation of X. Adjuah,” which began with a hard-rock beat with an urban, raw vibe from the combo. Solos were passed around, with the various members sharing vivid and complex musical ideas. The next piece, “Sunrise in Beijing,” began with a gorgeous solo guitar line, followed by a solo section.
The ensemble concluded the performance with “The Last Chiefdom,” which paid tribute to Chief’s grandfather, Big Chief Donald Harrison Sr., and uncle, Big Chief Donald Harrison Jr. This tune continued the brilliant duet between trumpet and flute, highlighted throughout the night. The song entered with an open solo section, where the members took turns improvising over the rhythm section, and then fell into a half-time groove. Chief successfully showcased his ability to transform the traditional sound and usage of the trumpet with his luscious tone, incorporation of other instruments, and usage of an effects pedal over innovative, passionate melodies of rhythmic and harmonic complexity. (Maryna Pohlman)
Jam Session with Shawn Williams
Thursday night’s jam session, hosted by Shawn Williams, was a great night of sweet sounds and impressive improvisation. Everyone had a chance to play as both youth and professionals alike traded tunes. The event provided a unique opportunity for musicians to connect and share their passion for music. The last tune served as a last call to the performers to leave it all on the table. The vibrant attendees fostered an atmosphere of creativity and collaboration, and the rhythm section deserves a shout-out for their ideas, time, and musicianship throughout this over-two-hour set. (Jacinda Ripley)
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