2024 ITG Conference Report - Day 5 - Saturday, June 1
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
Saturday, June 1, 2024
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Bronson Pascual Warm-Up Session - It’s Not Rocket Science: Keep It Simple
Saturday morning’s warm-up session, led by Bronson Pascual, set a relaxed, structured, and simplified tone for the final day of the Conference. With a strong turnout, eager minds gathered to absorb new warm-up studies. Pascual structured the presentation into three clear sections: air, sound, and purpose. Balancing discussion with practical application, attendees were able to grasp key concepts from each section and apply them with ease under his leadership. A standout feature of the session was Pascual’s ability to knock down mental barriers to focus more on the beauty of sound. The overall laid-back approach to warming up provided a fitting transition to wind down the conference, leaving attendees with a high energy, yet palpable, sense of relaxation. (Benjamin Dubbert)
David Detwiler - Chop Problems
David Detwiler gave an informative and impressive presentation on Chop Problems on Saturday morning. He brought stories and information from his own personal experiences, as well as advice from Phil Smith, Wayne Bergeron, Chris Gekker, Ashley Tighe-Hall, Chip Crotts, Chris Carrillo, SGM Kenneth Mcgee, and Josh Kauffman. All the conversations that Detwiler described spoke of physical, psychological, and spiritual conflicts through different kinds of chop challenges. Detwiler summarized that the most effective ways to conquer chop problems are through resting, maintaining patience, and paying attention to sound over feel. (Jacinda Ripley)
Brianne Borden - Mindful Practice for Performance Anxiety
In Dr. Brianne Borden’s presentation, she helped attendees better understand their relationship with their own bodies, how performers typically respond to performance anxiety, and ways to correct that within ourselves. At the outset of her session, Borden discussed the origins of anxious feelings. That varies from person to person, but these feelings can come from our inherent sense of perfectionism, from the importance we consciously or unconsciously place on a particular situation, imposter syndrome, or even past unresolved trauma. In the latter part of her presentation, Borden provided strategies and walked the attendees through exercises to promote greater mindfulness. She applied Cognitive Behavioral Therapy breathing techniques and then helped attendees understand how they can apply those exercises to trumpet practicing. (Joseph Nibley)
Youth Competition: Junior Division
In the final round of the Youth Junior division for The Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition, the soloists performed a variety of etudes and solos. The first performer, Yilang Li, displayed very strong technique. Juhan (Tony) Lee performed an energetic Bach arrangement, showing off great technical skills and dynamic contrast. Tyler Mebust performed Getchell #77 with a clear tone and strong energy. Michelle Park performed an etude by Bousquet with exciting dynamic contrasts, great phrasing, and strong technical work. The final contestant was Triin Ustav, who demonstrated great command of multiple tonguing, style, and dynamic phrasing. Each competitor showed that the future of trumpet performance is bright! (Flint Angeroth Franks)
Anthony Plog - Perpetual Progress: Nurturing the Lifelong Student in You
To kick off this session, a well-versed Non-Pro Trumpet Ensemble very impressively premiered the first movement of Brendan Collins’s Divertimento. For the main event, Anthony Plog delivered a thorough presentation saturated with wisdom, in which he played inspirational videos between talking points. His opening idea revolved around passion, in which he encouraged us to surround ourselves with people who are excited about what they do, who are more talented than we are, and who possess loving, kind, and empathetic qualities. To fuel our passion, Plog mentioned that we should always strive to be an enthusiastic student, regardless of where we are, talent-wise. We must maintain a healthy work ethic and place the utmost importance on spending our lives doing what we really enjoy. Finally he emphasized that stoking our curiosity will aid in filling our lives with richer experiences, rather than wasting it away on social media. (Peter Nionakis)
Adrienne Doctor - Celebrating Underrepresented Populations
This session opened with the Eastern New Mexico University trumpet ensemble’s fine performance of Erik Morales’s “Infinite Ascent.” SFC Adrienne Doctor (“Pershing’s Own” US Army Band) hosted this informative session about underrepresented groups in the music performance and academic fields. The panel members discussed the experiences and challenges they and others have faced in their careers, from their early education to their current positions. The importance of inclusion in the field was highlighted, including encouraging the next generation of musicians, building a wider audience, incorporating new ideas in a group or organization, and changing the culture of a group to better represent the public, among others. They also pointed out several ways the trumpet community can help lead this change, from being mindful of guest artist and audition panelist invitations; being more aware of how we may relate differently to students or colleagues of disparate groups; being more inclusive in hiring and recruiting, selecting repertoire, and mentoring; and having greater respect for underrepresented students and colleagues. (Daniel Kelly)
Julia Bell Youth Session - Music and Marketability: Career Development
Julia Bell gave an insightful presentation to young aspiring musicians about marketability and career development. She gave tools and ideas for what students can do right now in preparation of their future. Topics included goal setting, organization, networking, technology, and marketing. Bell was engaging and fun as she maneuvered through topics that can be daunting to students as they think of the future. The students did self-reflections to guide their next steps in the short and long term. The presentation was well received and useful for pre-professionals and professionals alike. (Jacinda Ripley)
Jens Lindemann Youth Session - Stage Ready: Your Guide to Audition and Competition Success
On the final morning of the Conference, Jens Lindemann gave a terrific presentation geared especially to younger musicians. The session was preceded by a highly engaging performance from the Mountain Ridge High School Trumpet Ensemble of Mike D’Ambrosio’s “Ice Town” and Erik Morales’s “Cityscapes.” Jens first explained and demonstrated how to approach the horn, beginning with posture, breathing, etiquette, and more. Throughout the session, he consistently reinforced healthy habits such as keeping an open mind and a positive energy and being always curious. He kept the audience engaged and entertained throughout the entirety of the session with interactive activities, call and response, and many, many jokes. A few points he continued to reiterate throughout the session were to always be kind, sensitive, aware, and focused when playing the trumpet. This session was useful, entertaining, and very educational for musicians of all ages and levels. (Maryna Pohlman)
ITG General Meeting
As Ryan Gardner concludes his first year as ITG President, he shared that his personal goals for ITG include his continued dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as increasing membership. In addition, the Guild is prioritizing overall transparency to its members. Interim Conference Director Rebecca Wilt provided information on next year’s 2025 ITG Conference at the University of Utah, and ITG Treasurer TJ Tesh presented a financial report. To expand ITG’s activities throughout the year, the board has several projects that promise to be of interest to Guild members outside of the Conference and Journal. In the bear future, members of ITG can expect a new record label/streaming service, which will replace the annual CD recording. The board revealed that there are plans for a 2025 regional conference in Croatia. The board also recognized the outstanding contributions of outgoing ITG Website Director Michael Anderson (who started the ITG Website in 1996) and plans to hire a new webmaster and complete an overhaul of the website in the near future. (Madison Barton)
Recital - Dan Rosenboom’s Polarity Quintet
The Dan Rosenboom Quintet featured tunes from his most recent album, “Polarity” (in a history of over twenty albums). Starting with a blend of tunes that segue together, the quintet started with “The Age of Snakes” and “A Paper Tiger.” Rosenboom dedicated the second tune to all the students competing at the Conference, stating that anything is possible and that competitors should believe in themselves. Throughout the concert, Rosenboom displayed a world-class sound that he shaped, colored, and manipulated to the full extent of his imagination; nothing got in his way. All the tunes created multiple layers and textures among the players, and each member navigated the music with seamless ideas and seeming ease. The entire program allowed this extremely fine group to display an electric level of intensity. (Will Koehler)
Jennifer Marotta - Efficient and Effective Practice Methods
In Saturday’s afternoon Youth Session, Jennifer Marotta (trumpet professor at USC’s Thornton School of Music) gave a great clinic on how to make the most of our practice sessions. At the beginning of the clinic, Marotta shared the session’s guiding insight: “Being technically proficient on our instrument allows us easier access to our musical voice.” She described how she sets long-term goals and reverse-engineers those goals into smaller, accomplishable, short-term goals. Practicing on the border of our current abilities in order to keep progress manageable and progressive was a recurring theme throughout. Other concepts included “ingredients” to great trumpet playing - making honest assessments, finding our own borders, listening actively, and practicing musically. Taking ownership of our practice and incorporating musical and technical elements, she explained, is foundational for building successful habits as a professional trumpet player. (Joseph Nibley)
Festival of Trumpets Concerts
Taking advantage of the Conference hotel’s proximity to Disneyland, the Festival of Trumpets performed two identical concerts in the outdoor amphitheater at Downtown Disney. The various ensembles performed both on stage and in different locations throughout the open quad in a fast-paced collage format. The Colorado Trumpet Ensemble opened with “Olympic Fanfare” and was quickly followed by Jim Olcott’s excellent arrangement of the “Star Wars Main Theme,” which included trombone and tuba. Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” showcased excellent lead playing by Tyler Helms and segued into a cantabile arrangement of the traditional “Shenandoah.” The Delaware Trumpet Ensemble gave an impressive rendition of “William Tell” Overture. No pops concert would be complete without the theme from “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and a light jazz arrangement - in this case, “Down by the Riverside.” An arrangement of “America the Beautiful” was a welcome addition to this program, which was set on a pleasant afternoon in beautiful southern California weather. To close out the Disney shows, Jim Olcott wrote a mass trumpet ensemble arrangement of “When You Wish Upon a Star,” which included all 84 ensemble members involved in the concert and featured solo parts performed by Jens Lindemann and Jonathan Bhatia. The concerts, very smoothly coordinated by Dr. Nairam Simoes from Arkansas State University, were well attended by an appreciative public audience and a steady flow of pedestrians passing by, who have probably never heard that many trumpets perform at the same time. (Nick Volz)
Erika Izaguirre - Senior Youth Trumpet Ensemble Reading Session
Dr. Erika Izaguirre led the Senior Youth Trumpet Ensemble Reading Session on Saturday afternoon. Participants, largely between the ages of fifteen and nineteen, played four trumpet ensemble pieces, including “Sojourn” by Nicole Piunno, “Jubilance” by Rodney S. Miller, “Canterbury Fanfare” by Gordon Jacob, and an arrangement of Gershwin’s “Someone to Watch Over Me.” Izaguirre directed an energetic rehearsal, introducing concepts of playing in a chamber group, while giving each participant a chance to play different roles in the ensemble. The students had the opportunity to play exciting music and meet their peers in a highly positive environment. (Flint Angeroth Franks)
Abby Temple - Junior Youth Trumpet Ensemble Reading Session
This Junior Youth Trumpet Ensemble Reading Session was led by Abby Temple, who also selected the excellent and accessible trumpet ensemble literature. She began by leading the group in a warm-up chorale that centered on listening for tonal blend, intonation, and coordination across the ensemble. The first piece that the ensemble read was Eric Ewazen’s “Concert Fanfare.” After the initial playthrough, Temple engaged the students by helping them identify the elements of the music that could be improved, such as playing cantabile in contrast to the fanfare sections. Then the ensemble read Telemann’s “Trumpet Tune,” in which the rehearsal focused on playing in the Baroque style and bringing out different types of articulations. The session ended with a reading of Michael Stewart’s “Waltz of the Squirrels,” which had extremely enjoyable and dynamic parts for each person. Temple marvelously led this session that was musically enriching for all those participating. (Spencer Brand)
Selina Ott Recital
To kick off Selina Ott’s highly anticipated recital, the trumpet quartet from the Royal Irish Academy of Music performed Anthony Plog’s rousing “Fanfare FT 1844.” Selina Ott then took the stage with her collaborator and pianist, En-Chia Lin. She opened her recital with a bang, Arthur Honegger’s “Intrada,” which showcased her powerful sound throughout the range of the instrument and her luscious, full sound. She continued with Florent Schmitt’s Suite, followed by Vladimir Peskin’s Concerto No. 3. For an intermission, En-Chia Lin performed Alfred Schnittke’s “Aus ‘5 Präludien und Fuge für Klavier.”’
Ott continued her program with Ricardo Mollá’s “The Overton Window,” Kurt Schwertsik’s “Serenata,” and Jean Baptiste-Arban’s “Variations on a Theme from Bellini’s ‘Norma,’” receiving an extremely enthusiastic standing ovation. Ott’s dazzling sound, virtuosity, and ability to capture the attention of the audience was on full display in every selection she played. She concluded her highly captivating recital with Felix Mendelssohn’s “Lied ohne Worte in F# minor, Op. 67/2,” receiving numerous standing ovations. Brava! (Maryna Pohlman)
Closing Concert - Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band
To start the final concert of the 2024 ITG Conference, Youth Competition Chair Erika Izaguirre announced the winners of the Youth Junior division of The Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition. The third-place winner was Juhan (Tony) Lee. Second-place honors went to Michelle Park. The first prize was awarded to Triin Ustav.
Following these awards, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band performed, and they certainly did not disappoint. Lead alto Sal Lozano explained that this concert was the first gig, in the 25-year history of the band, in which Gordon Goodwin could not appear (due to a mild illness). Undeterred, they opened with “TOP Adjacent,” a Tower of Power-inspired funk chart with plenty of sass from the trumpet section and burning solos from Brian Scanlon on tenor, followed by Goodwin’s “El Garage Gato” with solos by Lozano (flute) and Francisco Torres (trombone) and featuring the percussion section. An early highlight of the evening was Goodwin’s arrangement of “Rhapsody in Blue” with a Basie-style swing feel, a tenor battle between Scanlon and Alex Hahn, and a few tasty solo lines from Wayne Bergeron. The Goodwin favorite, “Hunting Wabbits,” featured the tight sax section in his comical take on cartoon and film music. Solo time went to Jay Mason (bari sax), Andy Martin (trombone), Eric Nam (trumpet), Kevin Axt (bass), and Jim Cox (piano).
Bria Skonberg was invited to the stage for solo and vocal duties on a funky Goodwin arrangement of “The Beat Goes On,” made famous by Cher. Brian Lynch joined the band for his “The Palmieri Effect,” with solos by Hahn, Cox, Torres and plenty of blazing choruses by Lynch. The trumpet section was featured next on Goodwin’s “Backrow Politics,” and as expected, they didn’t hold back on their solo opportunities; a battle royale was enjoyed by all! Skonberg and Lynch took the stage again for the final tune, a fast-paced “Cherokee” on which neither soloist – nor the band – held back. The Big Phat Band provided a perfect conclusion to the 2024 ITG Conference! (Daniel Kelly)
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