ITG 2003 Solo Competition

Joel Treybig, reporter

Splendidly musical performances started the morning of the third day of the conference as three talented and remarkably prepared young players competed in TCU’s PepsiCo Recital Hall. Each player exhibited unique styles already emerging in their sounds and stage personalities, but all three made very strong musical statements. Once Joe Bowman acknowledged the preliminary judges, he went on to introduce Jens Lindemann (UCLA), Luis Engelke (Towson State University), Richard Stoelzel (Grand Valley State University), and Stacy Blair (Dallas), all of whom served as the finals judges of the competition.

Goni Eshed, student of Ilan Eshed at the Tel-Aviv Academy of Music, was the first to perform, and began by playing the set piece, the first movement to Haydn’s E-flat concerto, from memory. Goni’s performance took a light, sensible approach to the piece, which included nice dovetailing of many of the phrases. In contrast, his performance of Plog’s Postcards for C trumpet alone took a bigger, more assertive approach to the horn, and he seemed more at ease and relaxed performing this piece. While the outer movements called for proficiency in multiple tonguing, shifting accents, flexibility, and much dynamic contrast, the middle movement required lyricism and control. All of this Goni achieved with apparent ease making for a strong conclusion to his portion of the program.

Gabor Komlossy, student of Frigyes Varasdy at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, was the second entrant. Sustained phrases and efficient use of air flow characterized Gabor’s performance of the Haydn, and included a great deal of musical contrast between phrases. His concluding cadenza showcased his agile technique and light, clear sound to great effect, and his use of a short model E-flat seemed to facilitate this timbre. Gabor’s chosen work was Delerue’s Concertino, and revealed the rich sound he achieves on the C trumpet. In all three movements, he truly sang through the musical line, and presented a strong, accurate, and musically expressive performance that exhibited both solid technique and good musical instinct.

The final performer was Nathan Botts, a student of David Brown at Brigham Young University. His rendition of the Haydn was memorized showcasing a resonant core to Nathan’s sound, even on the E-flat trumpet, as well as a great deal of musical inflection and phrasing. He seemed to be comfortable on the instrument, and the typical pitch issues on the trumpet’s fifth partials were not apparent in his performance in the least. Also memorized was Nathan’s chosen work, the Chaynes Concerto. The long, sustained phrases in the middle movement were admirably played, and his rhythmic precision, vitality, and multiple tonguing in the outer movements were remarkable. His comfortable, yet humble, stage presence seemed to relax the audience, and his robust, musical performance of this challenging work provided good closure to the competition recital.

Pianists Rebecca Wilt and Katalin Sarkady were first-rate collaborators. Rebecca’s performance of the Chaynes reduction was remarkable, as was Katalin’s work in the Delerue. Their performances with these talented young trumpeters serve as a reminder that a truly prepared accompanist can add much to a performance.

Now it falls on the judges to make their decisions about these three gentlemen. Each player’s program presented different challenges, and each made good musical cases for their individual interpretations and approaches to the music. The decision may not be an easy one to make, but it is left in most capable hands.