Thursday, May 22 – 8:15am
PepsiCo Recital Hall
Student Competition: Mock Orchestral Competition Final

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Judy Saxton, reporter

True to tradition, the mock orchestral audition for the 2003 ITG, like the 28 before it, was held in the early morning on the second day of the conference. It is always a tribute to the keenness of those seeking orchestral positions that they are all ready to play by 8:00 a.m. – not the hour most of us would relish playing B minor mass or Petrouchka! There was an appreciative crowd also; the only difference between the final round of a real orchestra audition and this mock experience is that all the candidates received a warm burst of

Adam Dickson- 2nd place, Matt Laird - 2nd place, Brian Winegardner -1st place, Jean-Christophe Dobrzelewski - 2nd place

applause both at there entrance and exit to their audition. James Ackley, assistant professor of trumpet at University of Connecticut served as chair of the competition. After a brief introduction by Frank Kaderabek, an ITG board member with a lifetime of orchestral experience, James announced the semi-final and final round repertoire list. As events transpired, no final round was requested by the judges, so neither Schumann Symphony #2 nor the jazz solo from American in Paris was heard. All candidates were provided with the music to the first round which began with Pines of Rome offstage solo, then Petrouchka’s “Ballerina’s Dance” and “Waltz,” the lyrical solo from American in Paris, Ravel Piano concerto in G –opening solo, and ended with Bach’s “Credo” from B minor mass.

Alan Siebert, Jim ackley, Stan Friedman, Rob Roy McGregor, Frank Kaderabek

The candidates in order were Adam Dickson, a junior at the University of Michigan, a student of William Campbell; Matt Laird a senior at Grand Valley State University, a student of Richard Stoelzel; and Brian Winegardner a senior at University of Michigan with Professor Campbell: and Jean-Christophe Dobrzelewski, a second year DMA student of David Hickman at Arizona State University. Here are the vital stats: three of the four candidates chose to use their own music, 3/4 brought the ubiquitous water bottle onstage with them, two played the lyrical American in Paris on Crown Royal bags, one in a Chamois cloth, and one chose an old felt hat. It’s always interesting to see the wide range of instrument brands and choices for the different pieces – at a conference with so many wonderful exhibitors this event alone illustrates the many excellent options for equipment available to serious orchestral students.

The Hartford Symphony trumpet section judged the preliminary round of tapes and chose all candidates who exhibited nice full sounds. There was a wide diversity of tempi for the Stravinsky and Ravel excerpts, and the range of coloring and interpretations on American in Paris offered them a venue to express their individuality. Every candidate started directly in on the first excerpt with no warm-up/test notes; similarly, each finalist went directly to the Bach with no preparation on the piccolo trumpet. They all demonstrated exceptional focus and poise in what is a challenging and unique situation. It is fascinating how articulation and vibrato affect the quality and consistency of tone. The candidates’ playing was clearly defined throughout the range of excerpts by these specific elements. The results of the competition are to be announced at the Saturday night banquet. The three judges committed time after the competition to provide the competitors with comments regarding their early morning endeavors. This year’s judges included: Rob Roy McGregor, second trumpet in the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Frank Kaderabek, former principal in Philadelphia; and Stanley Friedman, composer, soloist, and conductor. One of the best aspects of ITG is the mentoring available from those who have had successful careers to those that strive for the opportunity! The ITG community offers the mock orchestral audition candidates our congratulations for their time and efforts in the pursuit of an orchestral position.

Chair: James Ackley

Preliminary Judges

Hartford Symphony Orchestra Trumpet Section
Jay Lichtmann, principal
Roger Murtha, asst principal
Claire Newbold

Finals Judges

Patrick Addinall (BBC Philharmonic, principal)
Frank Kaderabek (Philadelphia Orchestra, former principal)
Rob Roy McGregor (Los Angeles Symphony, member)

Finalists:

Adam Dickson
Teacher: William Campbell
University of Michigan

Jean-Christophe Dobrzelewski
Teacher: David Hickman
Arizona State University

Matt Laird
Teacher: Richard Stoelzel
Grand Valley State University

Brian Winegardner
Teacher: William Campbell
University of Michigan

Excerpts for the Final will be selected from the Preliminary list:

A. J.S.Bach: Mass in B Minor (Credo m. 29 to 47)
B. H. Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (4th movement, 54 to 4 m. after 55 (1st Cornet Part)
C. J. Brahms: Symphony #2, 1st movement, m. 282 to 298
D. J. Ibert: Escales (9 to 12)
E. G. Mahler: Symphony #6, 1st movement, 5 m. before 3 to 3; and 4th movement, 124 to 127.
F. S. Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini (Var. XIV, 36 to 4 m. after 38)
G. O. Respighi: Pines of Rome , off-stage solo

Plus (complete First Trumpet parts to the following unless otherwise specified):

A. J.S. Bach: Mass in B Minor
B. B. Britten: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grime (3rd Trumpet Part in D)
C. G. Gershwin: An American in Paris
D. M. Ravel: Piano Concerto in G
E. I. Stravinsky: Petrouchka
F. R. Schumann: Symphony #2