Studio News
OSU students have done a tremendous job making headlines the past few years. Check back often for details about their accomplishments.
Studio Sweep of Crescendo Music Awards
The 10th Annual Tulsa Rotary Club Crescendo Music Awards Competition took place from April 10-12, 2008. Prizes totaling nearly $40,000 were awarded to students in 4 divisions. The Brass and Woodwind Division had 26 entries this year. After the preliminary competition, the judges selected 9 semifinalists, and 6 of them were OSU trombonists (Jason Cash, Brandon Dyer, Steven Jessup, Noel Seals Ted Sonnier and Isaac Washam). After the semifinal round the judges selected three finalists, and they were OSU trombonists Jason Cash, Brandon Dyer and Isaac Washam. Our three finalists competed again, and the judges awarded Brandon Dyer the Gold Prize of $5,000, Isaac Washam the Silver Prize of $2,000 and Jason Cash the Bronze Prize of $1,000. The studio took home $8,000! Congratulations to all our students!
Professor Compton Performs Maslanka Concerto with OSU Wind Ensemble
On April 10, 2008 Professor Paul Compton performed a consortium premiere of David Maslanka’s Concerto for Trombone and Wind Ensemble with OSU Director of Bands Dr. Joseph Missal conducting. David Maslanka was able to attend, and shared the details of the work with the performers and audience. The Concerto is an incredible addition to the repertoire, and will certainly enjoy many performances. This was a truly moving experience that none of us will ever forget.
Warren and Cash Selected for Eastern Music Festival
OSU freshman trombonist Steven Warren and sophomore trombonist Jason Cash have been selected for the 2008 Eastern Music Festival. The EMF will take place from June 28-August 2. For more than 45 years the EMF has been one of the country's foremost training programs for aspiring young orchestral and piano students between the ages of 14 and 20.
Sonnier and Torbert Headed for Graduate School
Senior trombonist Ted Sonnier has been accepted into the Yale School of Music graduate program with a full scholarship and stipend. Ted will pursue a MM in performance studying with Scott Hartman. Senior trombonist Stephen Torbert has been accepted into the graduate program at the University of North Texas with a scholarship and out-of-state tuition waiver. Stephen will pursue a MM in performance with the UNT trombone faculty of Vern Kagarice, Tony Baker, Steve Wiest and Jan Kagarice.
Washam and Seals Awarded Second Place at ETW
The National Solo Trombone Competition took place at the 2008 Eastern Trombone Workshop from March 13-15. After 3 rounds of competition, Isaac Washam was awarded second place in the tenor trombone division II category (ages 18-22), and Noel Seals was awarded second place in the bass trombone division II category (ages 18-22). Both Isaac and Noel played great and we are proud of them!
ITA Competition Success for Studio
The results of the 2008
International Trombone Association Competitions have been
announced and several OSU studio members have been recognized. First,
the OSU Trombone Octet has won the ITA Remington Trombone Ensemble
Competition! The
ensemble will give a full concert at the 2008
International Trombone Festival to be held at the University of Utah. This
competition was open to any trombone ensemble regardless of age or affiliation;
entries were submitted from multiple countries.
Freshman trombonist Steven Warren is a finalist in the George Roberts Bass Trombone Competition and has also received an honorable mention in the Gilberto Gagliardi Competition. Junior bass trombonist Noel Seals is a finalist in the Donald Yaxley Bass Trombone Competition for bass trombonists 25 and under. Junior trombonist Steven Jessup is a finalist in the Larry Wiehe Solo Competition for trombonists 23 and under. Senior trombonist Stephen Torbert received an honorable mention in the Lewis Van Haney Philharmonic Competition for tenor trombonists 25 and under. With these 6 mentions, the OSU trombone studio is one of the most recognized in this year's competitions. Our three individual finalists will compete live at the ITF. Congratulations to the octet and all the individuals recognized this year!
Seals and Washam in Semifinals of ETW Competitions
Junior bass trombonist Noel Seals is a semifinalist in the Eastern Trombone Workshop Solo Bass Trombone Competition, Division II (18-22). Junior tenor trombonist Isaac Washam is a semifinalist in the Solo Tenor Trombone Competition, Division II (18-22). They will complete in the semifinals on March 13 in Washington, D.C., as part of the ETW. Good luck to Noel and Isaac!
Professor Compton to perform at the Eastern Trombone Workshop
Professor Compton is one of the featured performers at the 2008 Eastern Trombone Workshop. He will present a solo recital on March 13 and will perform as soloist with the United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”, on March 15. His recital will feature new works for trombone by composers John Cheetham, Joseph Spaniola, Michael Davis and Todd Malicoate. Joining him on the recital will be pianist Chad Bowles, trombonist Amy Salo, and the OSU Trombone Quartet. Paul will perform James Kazik’s Concerto with the Army Band.
James Pickrel Selected Drum Major of the Cowboy Marching Band
Trombonist James Pickrel has been selected drum major of the Cowboy Marching Band for the 2008-2009 school year. James is music business major from Pilot Point, Texas, and has previously served the CMB as trombone section leader. Congratulations James!
Professor Compton Performs on Music Hall Artist Series
Professor Compton performed a solo recital on the University of West Florida’s Music Hall Artist Series on January 28, 2008. Other artists on this year’s series include concert pianist William Wolfram, principal violinist of the Dallas Symphony Emmanuel Borok and mezzo-soprano Elise Quagliata. Professor Compton’s program included three world premiere performances of works by John Cheetham, Michael Davis and Joseph Spaniola. The recital was one of the best attended in recent years, and the audience responded with an enthusiastic standing ovation. Pianist Chad Bowles and trombonist Amy Salo joined Professor Compton for the recital.
Ted Sonnier Winner In OSU Concerto Competition
The annual OSU Concerto Competition took place on November 27. More than twenty students from all areas in the Music Department competed for the opportunity to perform with the OSU Symphony Orchestra. Senior trombonist Ted Sonnier won the competition performing the Christopher Rouse Trombone Concerto. He will perform the piece with the OSU Symphony Orchestra in April. Bass trombonist Noel Seals received an honorable mention in the competition for his performance of the Thom Ritter George Bass Trombone Concerto. This is the fourth consecutive year a trombonist has won this competition. We would like to give special thanks to Todd Malicoate for his excellent accompanying work.
Sonnier and Jessup Finalists in Big 12 Solo Competition
Ted Sonnier and Steven Jessup have been selected for the final round of the first annual Big 12 Trombone Conference Solo Competition. They will compete live in the final round to be held at Texas Tech University on January 20, 2008. We are very excited to have two of the five finalists in this competition. Congratulations to Steven and Ted!
MTNA Success for Studio
The state round of the 2007-2008 Music Teacher’s National Association Collegiate Chamber Music Competition took place on November 10. The OSU Trombone Quartet of Stephen Torbert, Brandon Dyer, Ted Sonnier and Isaac Washam, won the competition for the third consecutive year. The group will now advance to the Division round in January. The studio also has the state representative in every solo brass category. Isaac Washam has advanced in the Young Artist Brass Division, Steven Warren has advanced in the Senior Brass Division and Atticus Mullon (pre-college studio) has advanced in the Junior Brass Division.
Jason Cash Winner in Hays Symphony
Orchestra Competition
The Fourth Annual Hays Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition took place on October 6-7 in Hays, Kansas. The competition was open to instrumentalists and vocalists ages 29 and under. The preliminary round included 18 competitors on piano, violin, flute, trumpet, tuba, trombone, double bass and voice. OSU sophomore trombonist and music education major Jason Cash was selected as one of the three winners. The three winners will perform their concertos with the Hays Symphony Orchestra on November 11 in an open public performance. The performance will serve as a final round of competition before the three will receive a final ranking and be awarded corresponding cash awards. Jason will be performing the entire Nino Rota Trombone Concerto with the orchestra. Congratulations, Jason!
Studio Welcomes New Additions
We are very happy to welcome the new members of the OSU trombone studio. Ira Allen is a new graduate music performance major from Cabot, Arkansas, who just graduated from the University of Central Arkansas. Steven Jessup is a new undergraduate music performance major from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Austin Mahan is a new undergraduate music education major from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Andrew Swann is a new undergraduate music education major from Rainsville, Alabama. Max Vowel is a new undergraduate music education major from Guthrie, Oklahoma. Steven Warren is a new undergraduate music performance major from Ponca City, Oklahoma. We are thrilled to have these talented new students at OSU.
Trombonist Jo-hsu Hsu Visits from Taiwan
Jo-hsu Hsu, known to her American friends as Joyce, visited Stillwater for nearly two months this summer. Joyce is entering her third year as a trombone major at the National Taipei University of Art. Studio member Ted Sonnier has known Joyce for a few years now, so she decided to visit Ted and spend some time being part of the OSU trombone studio. Joyce participated in trombone ensembles, group daily routine sessions, jazz ensemble and lessons. This was also her first visit to the United States, so she was also able to enjoy interesting new experiences like attending a university football game. Joyce is a very talented trombonist and a great friend to all of us, and we are very happy she came to visit. We hope she returns again soon!
OSU Trombone Ensembles Begin Year With Three Performances
The first OSU trombone ensemble performance of the year took place at the OSU Library on September 20. Both the 22-member OSU trombone choir and the OSU trombone octet performed on this concert. The performance kicked off the 2007-2008 OSU Library Noon Concert Series. The trombone octet then traveled to Lawton, Oklahoma for two concerts on September 21. The first Lawton concert took place at MacArthur High School, alma mater of studio member Stephen Torbert, where the octet performed for a majority of the public school band students in Lawton. The second concert took place at the Lawton International Festival. The OSU trombone octet and the studio jazz trombone ensemble, known as the Payne County Funk Council, performed as the Festival’s headline musical act for Friday evening. Rusty Hall, graduate of the studio, was on hand to record all the concerts, and he sat in on the Payne County Funk Council set. We would like to give special appreciation to Rusty and to the Funk Council rhythm section, Todd Malicoate, Charles Peterson and Patrick Bubert. The Lawton International Festival is a really outstanding event, and we hope to perform there again next year.
Isaac Washam Winner in Eastern Music Festival Concerto Competition
The annual Bank of America Concerto Competition is one of the most anticipated parts of the Eastern Music Festival, and an entire EMF student orchestra concert is dedicated to accompanying the winners of this prestigious competition. The competition began with separate preliminary auditions for brass, woodwinds, strings and piano, and the top students in each of these areas competed in a final round of competition. Six winners were selected in this year’s competition, and Isaac Washam is one of them. Isaac will perform Paul Creston’s Fantasy for Trombone and Orchestra on July 26, with Gerard Schwarz conducting. Isaac is one of a very small group of trombonists to win this competition in the 45 years of the EMF. The most recent trombone winners prior to Isaac are James Box, now Principal Trombonist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Douglas Wright, now Principal Trombonist of the Minnesota Orchestra. Congratulations Isaac!
Successful Summer for Pre-College Trombone Studio
The summer of 2007 has been successful for members of the OSU pre-college trombone studio. Zachary Earnest, who just completed his junior year at Bixby High School, earned the principal trombone chair of the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute Symphony Orchestra. Zachary and Steven Warren, who just complete his senior year at Ponca City High School and will be a music student at OSU this fall, shared the principal trombone work in the OU Honors Wind Ensemble. Atticus Mullon, who just completed the seventh grade in Stillwater, earned first chair in the first band (of eight bands) at the University of Arkansas Junior High School Band Camp. Sam Eastman, who just completed the seventh grade in Stillwater, earned fourth chair in the first band at the University of Arkansas Junior High School Band Camp. Zachary Sheffert, who just completed the ninth grade at Stillwater High School, earned first chair at the OSU/Seretean Summer Band Camp and fifth chair in the first band at the University of Arkansas High School Band Camp. Earnest, Warren and Mullon study with Professor Compton, and Sheffert and Eastman study with Isaac Washam.
Jason Cash Wins Second Prize in Miller Competition
The 31st Annual Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Instrumental Scholarship Competition took place on June 7 in Clarinda, Iowa. Ten finalists, selected from a pool of 54 preliminary audition recordings, competed live for cash prizes totaling $6.000. OSU freshman trombonist Jason Cash won this year’s $2,000 second prize. The competition is open to any instrumentalist in the final year of high school or first year of college. Incoming OSU freshman trombonist, Steven Warren, was also a finalist in this year’s competition.
Chad Garvin Secures Internship with Summit Records
Senior music business major and trombonist, Chad Garvin, began an internship with Summit Records of Tempe, Arizona on June 11. Chad will spend nearly two months observing all aspects of the company. Summit Records is an internationally distributed record label that evolved out of the dynamic large brass ensemble, Summit Brass, in the late 1980s with the goal of providing quality, world-class musicians a platform to get their music to the public and be treated fairly in the process. Summit has a large catalog of recordings, including those by world-class trombonists Joseph Alessi, Mark Lawrence, Harry Watters, Scott Whitfield, Carl Lenthe, Larry Zalkind, Mark Hetzler, James Nova, Pete McGuiness and Nicola Ferro.
Stephen Torbert Selected for Hot Springs Music Festival
Stephen Torbert has been offered a full scholarship to attend the Hot Springs Music Festival in Hot Springs, Arkansas from June 2-16. He will participate in large brass ensemble, chamber brass ensemble and symphony orchestra concerts throughout the Festival. Stephen will be working with David Jackson, the festival trombone mentor and University of Michigan trombone professor.
Stephen Torbert Selected for Bar Harbor Brass Week
Stephen Torbert has been selected to participate in the 2007 Bar Harbor Brass Week from June 24-July 1. Stephen will participate in rehearsals, masterclasses, and private lessons with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony, and the Extension Ensemble brass quintet. The trombone faculty is Matthew Vaughn, Blair Bollinger and Chris Branagan. All of this will take place on the campus of the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine. Bar Harbor is one of the East Coast's most popular summer tourist destinations and lies adjacent to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island. Congratulations Stephen!
Jason Cash Finalist in Miller Competition
Freshman trombonist Jason Cash is a finalist in the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Instrumental Scholarship Competition. The final round of competition will take place in Clarinda, Iowa, during the annual GMBS Festival. The Festival will take place from June 7-10. Finalists will be competing for $6,000 in prizes. This is the fourth consecutive year an OSU trombonist has been in the finals.
Noel Seals Selected for the Eastern Music Festival
Sophomore bass trombone performance major Noel Seals has been selected to participate in the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra from June 23-July 29. With Noel’s selection, we now have 3 OSU trombonists attending the EMF this summer. Noel, Brandon and Isaac will have the opportunity to perform such pieces as Mahler's Symphony #1, Shostakovich's Symphony #10, Holst's The Planets, Dukas' The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Prokoviev's Romeo and Juliet and Stravinsky's Petrushka. This certainly will be a special summer for these students.
Rusty Hall Graduates, Starts Business
Trombonist Rusty Hall graduated with his music business degree on May 5. Rusty spent the last several months interning with James Jackson, the most in demand ambient recording engineer in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Prior to completing his internship, Rusty had already established his own company, R.R. Productions. Rusty is developing a long list of clients working as an ambient recording engineer, and he continues to book his group, the Rusty Hall Band. Rusty and his wife Stephanie are living in North Richland Hills, TX. We wish them the very best, and we miss them already.
Ted Sonnier Wins DownBeat Competition
OSU junior trombone performance major, Ted Sonnier, is a winner in the 30th Annual DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards. Ted won the College Classical Instrumental Soloist Award. He is recognized in the June 2007 issue of the magazine, which is available now. Ted’s category was open to any classical instrumental soloist enrolled in at least 6 hours of college credit.
Brandon Dyer Selected for the Eastern Music Festival
OSU junior bass trombonist Brandon Dyer has been selected to participate in the 2007 Eastern Music Festival Orchestra from June 23-July 29. We are very excited to be sending two trombonists this year. Brandon’s participation is made possible through generous financial assistance from the Hyechka Club of Tulsa and Chamber Music Tulsa. Brandon was also recently selected first alternate in the Bar Harbor Brass Week bass trombone auditions.
Isaac Washam Wins Second Prize in Hyechka Scholarship Auditions
The Hyechka club of Tulsa held their annual scholarship auditions on April 14. OSU sophomore trombonist Isaac Washam won the $1,000 second prize in the Chamber Music Tulsa/Robert Heckman Collegiate Instrumental Scholarship Competition. Isaac will perform on the Hyechka Scholarship Winners Program on May 2nd at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa.
OSU Trombone Ensemble to be Featured at 2007 Lawton International Festival
The OSU Trombone Ensemble will be featured on Friday, September 21, 2007 at the 28th Annual Lawton International Festival. The annual festival celebrates Lawton’s remarkable cultural and ethnic diversity. Activities include a variety of multi-cultural entertainment on three stages, a children's area with games and activities, vendors, and a food court. The OSU Trombone Ensemble will perform at 8:00 pm.
Isaac Washam Selected for the Eastern Music Festival
OSU sophomore trombonist Isaac Washam has been selected to participate in the 2007 Eastern Music Festival Orchestra from June 23-July 29. For the last 45 years the Eastern Music Festival and School has been one of this country's foremost training programs for aspiring young musicians between the ages of 14 and 20.
OSU Trombone Studio Active During International Trombone Week
International Trombone Week 2007 took place from April 1-8. The OSU trombone studio kicked off our part of International Trombone Week on April 3, with afternoon recital hour performances by Ted Sonnier and Chad Garvin. That same evening OSU Concerto Competition winner Isaac Washam performed Ferdinand David’s Concertino with the OSU Symphony Orchestra. Ted Sonnier performed the trombone solo in Ravel’s Bolero on the same concert.
April 4 was the first day of a guest residency with NEA Jazz Master and jazz trombone legend Slide Hampton. Slide rehearsed with both jazz ensembles, gave an improvisation masterclass and worked with the OSU trombone ensemble. Slide talked about his career and rehearsed with the jazz bands again on April 5. The OSU Jazz Ensembles and Slide performed for a packed audience on April 6. Having Slide Hampton at OSU was an absolutely unforgettable experience. Slide is a living legend, and every note he plays has incredible style, beauty and history. He is one of the best there has ever been.
OSU Trombonists Return from Toronto
Five OSU trombonists traveled to Toronto to compete in the Music Teacher’s National Association Competitions National Finals from March 21-27. The OSU Trombone Quartet (Brandon Dyer, Stephen Torbert, Ted Sonnier and Isaac Washam) placed third in the Chamber Music Competition and OSU freshman trombonist Zachary Hager placed third in the Senior Brass Competition. All the competitions were extremely competitive, and we are very proud that these students placed so high.
Professor Compton Selected for 2007 Alessi Seminar
Paul Compton was selected as one of the 16 participants for the 2007 Alessi Seminar to be held July 29 - August 7 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Seminar events will include masterclasses, orchestral audition preparation, recitals, a solo recital by Joseph Alessi, trombone quartets, trombone choir and a concert featuring selected participants accompanied by the UNM Wind Symphony.
OSU Trombone Ensemble Performs Spring Library Concert
The OSU Trombone Ensemble was featured on a concert at the OSU Library on March 15. The ensemble performed works by Bozza, Shostakovich, Blazevich, Jacob, Crespo and Ewazen. Junior bass trombonist Brandon Dyer was featured on Eric Ewazen’s Capriccio for solo bass trombone and trombone ensemble
Isaac Washam St. Cecilia Collegiate Winner
Isaac Washam was awarded the 2006-2007 St. Cecilia Federated Music Club Collegiate Scholarship on March 11. He performed Malcolm Arnold’s Fantasy for unaccompanied trombone on the winners recital held at the Sheerar Museum. The Ladies Club of Oklahoma City also recently awarded Isaac the Dr. Carl and Leanne Manion Award for Excellence in Trombone. He will perform at their winner’s concert on April 18.
Brandon Dyer Recognized in Ladies Club Audition
The Ladies Club of Oklahoma City held their annual scholarship auditions on March 4. OSU bass trombonist Brandon Dyer was awarded the organization’s Floyd Red Rice scholarship award. Brandon will perform at the Ladies Club winner’s concert on April 18.
Studio Members Earn Silver and Bronze at Crescendo Music Awards
The 9th Annual Crescendo Music Awards Competition took place from February 22-24 in Tulsa. The CMA Competition, sponsored by the Tulsa Rotary Club, awarded cash prizes totaling $34,500. Three rounds of competition took place in each of the 4 divisions; Piano, Strings, Voice and Brass & Woodwinds. Participants were required to perform memorized selections representing 3 periods of music. OSU trombonist, Isaac Washam, won the Silver Award and $2,000 and OSU bass trombonist, Brandon Dyer, won the Bronze Award and $1,000 in the Brass & Woodwind Division. The final round of competition was an open public recital at the Van Trease Performing Arts Center for Education.
Slide Hampton at OSU
NEA Jazz Master Slide Hampton will be at OSU from April 3-7. Slide will work closely with OSU students, and the week will culminate in a performance on Friday, April 6, at 8:00. Tickets are available by calling 405-744-6134. Slide’s appearance is made possible by generous funding from the NEA Jazz Master’s Program. Slide is an absolute jazz legend who has played with Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson and Dizzy Gillespie, just to name a few.
Stephen Torbert Recognized in Two ITA Competitions
Studio member Stephen Torbert was recognized recently in two ITA Competitions. He was selected Second Alternate in the Lewis Van Haney Competition, and he received an Honorable Mention in the Frank Smith Competition. Earning mention in one competition is a tremendous achievement alone, so Stephen has achieved something particularly special. Congratulations Stephen!
OSU Participates in Commission Consortium
The OSU Wind Ensemble, Dr. Joseph Missal conductor, has joined a consortium to commission a Concerto for Trombone and Winds by David Maslanka. The piece will be premiered during the 2007-2008 school year. David Maslanka is one of today’s premiere composers, particularly in the wind and percussion world.
Professor Compton at TMEA
Professor Paul Compton will be attending the 2007 Texas Music Educator’s Association Convention in San Antonio, TX from February 14-17. He will be assisting with the Edwards exhibit.
The OSU Music Department will also have an exhibit at the convention. Several OSU faculty members will be on hand to answer questions about OSU. Studio member James Pickrel will also be available to offer a student's perspective.
OSU Jazz Ensemble I Invited to Perform at the 2007 North Sea Jazz Festival
The OSU Jazz Ensemble I will travel to Europe this summer to perform in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The ensemble, directed by Dr. Andrew Cheetham, has been invited to perform at the prestigious North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The ensemble is one of only 11 student groups invited to perform this year. The trombone section in Jazz Ensemble I this semester is Stephen Torbert, Isaac Washam, Ted Sonnier, Noel Seals and Brandon Dyer.
5 OSU Trombonists in MTNA National Finals
The Music Teacher’s National Association Annual Convention will take place from March 21-27, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The National Finals of the MTNA student competitions will take place during the convention.
Five OSU trombonists will be competing in this year’s finals. Freshman trombonist Zachary Hager is one of six finalists in the Senior Brass Competition; sophomore trombonist Isaac Washam is one of six finalists in the Young Artist Brass Competition; and the OSU Trombone Quartet (Stephen Torbert, Isaac Washam, Ted Sonnier and Brandon Dyer) is one of seven ensembles in the Collegiate Chamber Music Competition Finals. The students advanced to the national level by first winning the state round and then the division round.
Professor Compton Performs Recital at the University of Arkansas
Professor Paul Compton performed a guest recital at the University of Arkansas on Monday, January 29. He was accompanied by OSU faculty pianist Dr. Zarina Melik-Stepanova and the OSU Trombone Quartet. Compton’s program was Concerto for Trombone by James Pugh; Life Pictures for Solo Trombone by David Shipps; Elegie by Sergei Rachmaninov; and Mosaic of a Fallen Hero by David Herring. The quartet also performed Slide Hampton’s arrangement of Round Midnight and Dr. Melik-Stepanova performed a collection of piano works by Debussy. Dr. Gerald Sloan, Professor of Trombone at the University of Arkansas, made the recital possible.
Scott Whitfield Visit a Success
On
January 17, Scott Whitfield, jazz trombonist and vocalist, gave a performance/lecture/masterclass
for OSU students. Exceptional jazz singer Ginger Berglund joined Scott
to perform several wonderful tunes with local trio Todd Malicoate, piano;
Charles Peterson, bass; and Pat Bubert, drums.
OSU Sophomore bass trombonist Noel Seals wrote and arranged a jazz trombone ensemble chart, A Little Payne County Funk, especially for the occasion. Scott performed the chart with the trio, Paul Compton and studio members Noel Seals, Brandon Dyer, Jason Cash, Isaac Washam, Ted Sonnier and Stephen Torbert. Every aspect of Scott’s presentation was excellent and we hope to have him back soon.
Four Studio Members in Delta Symphony Concerto Competition Finals
Studio members Ted Sonnier, Brandon Dyer, Isaac Washam and Stephen Torbert have been invited to the finals of the Delta Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. They were selected from a preliminary CD round, and will now compete live on January 13 at Arkansas State University. Finalists have the opportunity to win cash prizes and a solo performance with the Delta Symphony Orchestra.
Jazz Trombonist Scott Whitfield at OSU
Los Angeles jazz trombone artist Scott Whitfield will be on campus on Wednesday, January 17, 2007. He will present a master class and lecture at 8:00 om in the OSU Concert Hall. Scott is touring all month, partially in support of his latest CD, Speaking of Love.
Professor Compton Wins Co-op Press Recording Competition
Professor Paul Compton won First Prize in the 2006 Co-op Press Recording Competition for his recording of Sy Brandon’s Ballad and Dance Variations for Trombone and Piano. In addition to receiving a cash prize, his recording will be included on the album Trombonarama, to be released on Emeritus Records in 2007. OSU faculty pianist Zarina Melik-Stepanova collaborated with Paul on this recording.
Isaac Washam OSU Concerto Competition Winner
The annual OSU Concerto Competition took place on November 29, 2006. More than twenty brass, woodwind, voice, piano, percussion and string students competed for the opportunity to perform as soloist with the OSU Symphony Orchestra. Sophomore trombonist Isaac Washam won the competition, and will perform the Ferdinand David Concertino with the OSU Symphony Orchestra in April.
This is the third consecutive year an OSU trombonist has won this competition. Robert Gorbet won in 2005-2006 with the Daniel Schnyder subZERO bass trombone concerto and Stephen Torbert won in 2004-2005 with the Lars-Erik Larsson Concertino.
OSU Trombone Quartet Wins MTNA Competition
The OSU Trombone Quartet – Stephen Torbert, Isaac Washam, Ted Sonnier and Brandon Dyer – won the state round of the MTNA Collegiate Chamber Music Competition for the second consecutive year on November 11. The group advanced all the way to the national finals last year, and hopefully they are on their way there again. They will compete at the Division level in January against the state winners from Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.
Trombonists Isaac Washam and Zachary Hager automatically advanced to subsequent rounds of their respective MTNA solo brass competitions, as they were the only competitors at the state level.
OSU Trombone Ensemble featured on Library Concert Series
The OSU Edmon Low Library Concert Series featured the OSU Trombone Ensemble on October 19th. The performance included trombone ensembles ranging from 4 to 17 players, performing the music of J. S. Bach, James Kazik, Dmitry Shostakovich, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Thelonious Monk, Eric Ewazen and Franz Biebl.
The program also included the premiere of Grammatical Errors for Trombone Octet, by OSU student composer Joseph Cooper. This concert was part of the monthly Noon Concert Series in the Peggy V. Helmerich Browsing Room.
Professor Compton Receives Wise-Diggs-Berry Award
On October 3, 2006, Paul Compton was awarded the OSU College of Arts and Sciences Wise-Diggs-Berry Award for teaching excellence in the arts. The Music Department Faculty nominated Professor Compton, and the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Council ultimately made the final selection. The presentation was made at the OSU College of Arts and Sciences Fall Convocation.
Rusty Hall Granted Internship
Senior trombonist and music business major Rusty Hall has been granted an internship with James Jackson, one of the leading live ambient audio engineers in the nation. Jackson frequently records the Dallas Wind Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, Turtle Creek Chorale, Van Cliburn Competition and many others.
Rusty will spend several weeks working with Jackson, learning every detail of recording, editing and producing. This will be Rusty’s final degree requirement before graduation.
Professor Compton Performs Pugh Concerto
The first OSU Symphony Orchestra concert of the 2006-2007 school year took place on September 28th. The program featured Paul Compton on James Pugh's Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra. The performance received an enthusiastic standing ovation. Professor Douglas Droste, OSU Director of Orchestral Studies, conducted the performance.
Flick Finalist in United States Army Band Euphonium Audition
OSU euphonium and trombone graduate student Phil Flick was one of ten finalists invited to the recent United States Army Concert Band “Pershing’s Own” euphonium audition. Phil was selected from a recorded preliminary audition and invited to audition live.
Professor Compton Completes Residency at the University of Saskatchewan
Paul Compton spent September 13-17 at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was the guest trombone artist for the 2006 University of Saskatchewan Brass Days. He performed a solo recital, participated in three large brass ensemble concerts, taught lessons, gave a master class and performed a brass quintet concert with the other guest performers.
Isaac Washam Wins ITA Gagliardi Competition
Isaac Washam won the 2006 International Trombone Association Gilberto Gagliardi Solo Competition, for trombonists 18 and under. He and two other finalists – all selected from a CD round – competed live at the 2006 International Trombone Festival in Birmingham, England. The Weril Instrument Company of Brazil awarded Isaac a custom bass trombone as his prize.
Isaac Washam wins Miller Competition
The final round of the 30th Annual Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Instrumental Scholarship Competition took place on June 8, 2006, as part of the GMBS Festival in Clarinda, Iowa. The competition was open to any instrumentalist who was a graduating high school senior or college student with only one year completed. There were 39 recordings submitted for the preliminary round, and this was reduced to 10 finalists. The final round consisted of 2 violinists, 1 flutist, 2 saxophonists, 1 trombonist, 1 tubist, 2 pianists and 1 harpist. Each finalist performed prepared solo pieces, scales and sight-reading. This year’s first prize was awarded to OSU trombonist Isaac Washam. Isaac performed on a winner’s recital on June 10 for several hundred audience members.
Wind Ensemble Tours Japan
The OSU Wind Ensemble recently returned from a concert tour in Japan. The ensemble performed at the 37th Annual Yamaha All-Japan Band Directors Clinic in Hamamatsu City and at Musashino Academy of Music in Tokyo. A CD of this tour is now available by contacting the OSU Band office.
Brandon Dyer Winner in Hyechka Competition
Bass Trombonist Brandon Dyer won second place – and $1000 – in the recent Hyechka Club of Tulsa Collegiate Instrumental Scholarship Competition.
Robert Gorbet Accepted at Juilliard
Senior bass trombone performance student Robert Gorbet has been accepted into the graduate program at the Juilliard School of Music. Robert will begin his studies at Juilliard in the fall of 2006. The Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University also accepted Robert.
Brandon Dyer Wins ETW Competition
The 2006 National Classical Trombone Competition took place at the Eastern Trombone Workshop in March. Brandon Dyer won the Bass Trombone Division for ages 18-22. His competition piece was David Fetter's Spain.
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