It’s been a while since Matt Guilford interviewed his last candidate for his collection of bass trombonist interviews. This time it’s the turn of Stephen Saunders, bass trombonist in the BBC Symphony Orchestra and bass sackbut with His Majesty’s Sagbutts and Cornetts.

Steve tells of his studies with Denis Wick at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and working with Ray Premru, Maurice Murphy, Derek Watkins, James Watson and Don Lusher. He also describes a bizarre occurrence involving a rat and a euphonium.

Read the interview with Stephen Saunders at Matt Guilford’s weblog.

The Guildhall School of Music and Drama has announced that Jiggs Whigham has accepted the invitation to become a Visiting Artist at the school from September 2006. Peter Gane, Head of Wind, Brass and Percussion, said that although Whigham will be primarily coaching the students on the jazz course during the several mini-residencies during each year, he expects all the trombonists will work closely with him too.

Whigham’s appointment complements Guildhall’s existing trombone staff which includes: Eric Crees, Simon Wills, John Kenny (Interpretation of 20th Century Repertoire) and Keith McNicoll (bass trombone/euphonium)

Appointed as principal trombone to the world-famous Stan Kenton band aged just 19, Jiggs Whigham continues to make his mark as a jazz soloist. He’s previously held the post of Head of Jazz for music schools in Cologne and Berlin. Born in the United States, and following a spell in Germany, Whigham now works in the UK, conducting the BBC Big Band.

The Don Lusher Memorial Service will be held at the Regent Hall, Salvation Army, 275 Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ on Monday 25 September 2006 at 12.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

Donations can be sent, if desired, to The Don Lusher Memorial Fund, Salvation Army, Freepost KE3466, London SE1 6BP. Telephone +44 (0)207 367 4800.

The Don Lusher website has lots of information about Don and the bands he played with, The Best of British Jazz, The Ted Heath Band and The Don Lusher Big Band, as well as Don’s work with brass bands and some interesting links to other websites and organisations.

Former BTS president and veteran BBC Radio presenter Sheila Tracy has admitted a bias towards playing jazz trombone records on her show Swingtime. Broadcast to the Midlands region of England, Sheila wanted to make sure listeners who enjoy the sound of the trombone didn’t miss out:

I do play a lot of trombones, often bringing complaints from saxophonists!

Swingtime with Sheila Tracy
Saturdays 10pm to midnight on Saga 106.6fm in the East Midlands
Sundays 8pm to 10pm on Saga 105.7fm in the West Midlands

Following Birmingham’s impressive International Trombone Festival this week, Rotterdam looks set to be next year’s European Capital of the Trombone. After a successful festival in 2005, the Dutch Trombone Festival has announced an even starrier list of performers for Slide Factory in May 2007.

Topping the bill is one of the most admired European soloists and teachers Michel Becquet, along with the premier sackbut and cornett ensemble Les Sacqueboutiers de Toulouse and bass trombone legend Ben van Dijk. Joining them on the jazz side are stars Mark Nightingale, Bart van Lier, Ilja Reijngoud and Jos Jansen. The hosts New Trombone Collective will also feature alongside Octobone and the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Organised and inspired by the trombonists of the New Trombone Collective, the past couple of years has seen unprecedented numbers of releases of excellent trombone CDs, concerts, workshops and commissions emanating from Rotterdam. The students at the conservatory have been winning competitions at the ITFs and the Conn-Lindberg competition, while some of their teachers, Jörgen van Rijen and Ben van Dijk, have been performing as soloists around the world.

Slide Factory
Dutch Trombone Festival 2007
3-4-5-6 May 2007
De Doelen Rotterdam NL
www.slidefactory.nl

The Swedish trombone hero Christian Lindberg will be appearing at the BBC Proms, but instead of a familiar concerto appearance in the Royal Albert Hall, this year he will be performing for the Glasgow Proms in the Park.

Topping the billing in Glasgow Green on the last night of the world’s largest music festival, Lindberg will be accompanied by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. The programme looks from Lindberg’s website to include him in the famous Motorbike Odyssey by Jan Sandström, a Mozart Horn Concerto plus Monti’s Csardas. If last year is anything to go by, Lindberg can expect an amazing 15,000 people at this concert.

Tickets are free. The Proms in the Park Ticket Line is 08700 100 160.

Saturday 9th September 2006, 7.45 pm
Glasgow Green, Scotland

Sally Magnusson presenter
Jamie MacDougall presenter

Christian Lindberg trombone
Measha Brueggergosman soprano
Inverclyde Junior Choir
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

Following the success of the Guildhall-based Spitfire Trombone Quartet yesterday, the two other Brits in the finals of the International Trombone Festival comptetitions were successful in beating young trombonists from around the world.

Matt Knight and Andrew Connington, flushed with success at the ITF

Andrew Connington, student at the Royal Academy of Music, won the Larry Wiehe/King Trombone Competition for his rendition of Arthur Pryor’s Air Varie. Andrew takes home a brand new King 3B in reward for his success. The competition category features trombonists aged 23 and under, in a performance of an Arthur Pryor work.

In addition, Matt Knight who is studying Music at Cambridge University, won the Robert Marsteller/Bach-Conn Trombone Competition. Matt won praise for his performance of John Kenny’s Fanfare and Buxton Orr’s Trombone Concerto from the judges who included Ian Bousfield and the piece’s dedicatee, Denis Wick. This competition category is for performing a standard piece of trombone repertoire, open to students aged 22 and under and Matt takes home the prize of a new Conn 88H.

Both are currently students of Dudley Bright, Principal Trombone of the London Symphony Orchestra.

At the International Trombone Festival, currently taking place in Birmingham, a World Record has been set. The first day saw an attempt to get the ITF into the Guinness Book of World Records by trying to form the largest trombone ensemble ever. The existing record, standing at 289 trombonists, was smashed, yesterday with 489 registered trombonists performing a 15 minute concert in Centenary Square. The combination of keen ITF delegates plus approximately 200 trombonists from schools in the Midlands performed Henry VIII’s Pastime with Good Company, Handel’s Sarabande and When The Saints Go Marching In, conducted by LSO legend and current ITA President, Denis Wick.

The schoolchildren performed in Symphony Hall later that evening, sharing the programme with the likes of Ian Bousfield, Bones Apart and the Brazilian Trombone Ensemble.

Rick Taylor conducts the Massed Schools Trombone Ensemble with the Birmingham Schools’ Azaad Dhol Group in Symphony Hall, Birmingham

Flying the British flag at the International Trombone Festival competitions yesterday were the Spitfire Trombone Quartet from Guildhall coached by Eric Crees who were awarded the winning prize in the annual Quartet Competition. Playing Bruckner’s Locus Iste and Gary Carpenter’s Secret Love Songs, the four students aged 20-22 were successful in competition from quartets from Rotterdam and Budapest in the final held in the Adrian Boult Hall. The judges Don Lucas and Gary Carpenter award the prize following the 9am competition on the first day of the festival. Carpenter said later that the British quartet had:

“given a real performance full of risk taking. They won because they had a feel for the architecture - a sense of the over-arching form”

Spitfires celebrate after winning the $1000 prize ITA Quartet Competition. (l-r Chris Gill, Matt Eckland, Jon Watkins, Richard Watkin

Richard Watkin, Jon Watkins and Matt Eckland have recently completed their 3rd and 4th years at the Guildhall School of Music, studying with Eric Crees and Simon Wills. Chris Gill has just finished his 4th year at the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Bob Hughes.

British medal hopes continue in competitions today with two of Dudley Bright’s students, Andrew Connington and Matt Knight.

In September Chris Houlding will be presenting “Trombonology”, a recital for trombone and organ at the Saltaire Festival, and an accompanying workshop for trombonists, for which there is a discount to BTS members.

Chris has given recitals thoughout Europe, Russia and the USA and as Principal Trombonist of Opera North and Senior Tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music is delighted to be performing in his own locality.

Inviting trombonists to make a weekend of it, enjoying the Friday evening recital and Saturday Trombone Workshop, Chris also suggests bringing your wife or partner for the weekend to experience real Yorkshire hospitality with a wide range of events in the Saltaire Festival.

Trombonology
Friday 15th September, 8pm
Saltaire United Reformed Church, Bradford
Tickets £5 (£3 concessions) available on door
Chris Houlding trombone
Simon Lindley organ

From nobility to comedy, beauty to terror, internationally acclaimed trombonist, Chris Houlding, presents this entertaining soiree for all the family. Includes music by Cesare, Bach, Pergolesi, Bernstein, Gershwin and Dorsey and world premiere of a new work by Peter Swan.

Trombone Workshop
Saturday 16th September 10am-5pm
Featuring Masterclasses and Trombone Ensemble directed by Chris Houlding culminating in a short performance on the Festival Piazza Stage at 5pm.

Salt Grammar School, Higher Coach Road, BD17 5RH. 5 minutes walk to festival events with plenty of free parking. Asian, Thai and Mediterranean Cuisine and great real ale pubs all within walking distance.
Limited numbers, therefore, limited places for advanced and intermediate players of all ages.
Cost including lunch & free admission to Friday evening recital £40.00 (£30.00 concs.)
British Trombone Society members £35.00 (£25.00 concs.)
Click here for the application form.
Suggested accommodation: Ibis Hotel - Bradford Shipley. £42.50 per room. Tel 01274 589333 or contact Saltaire Tourist Information Centre on 01274 774993.

This workshop is supported by Edwards Instruments UK