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Thursday, June 17 - 8:00 am Elisa Koehler, Reporter Listening to great musicians and surmounting technical obstacles provided the theme for the morning. Modell noted several great trumpeters who exerted a profound influence on his musical training and professional growth. His first mentors were his uncles, Louis Davidson (principal trumpet of the Cleveland Orchestra) and Milton Davidson (principal of the Dallas Symphony). Later, he had opportunities to work with Rafael Méndez and Adolph Herseth. Playing from memory, Modell demonstrated the idiomatic Mexican flare necessary for La Virgen de la Macarena and explained that the work’s title refers to the traditional bullfighter’s prayer for the Blessed Virgin Mary’s intercession before entering the ring. Such background information was just as necessary as knowing the notes, Modell emphasized. From his encounters with Adolph Herseth Modell learned the value of confidence and technical mastery. Modell emphasized that “99% of all music is based on major, minor, and chromatic scales,” so it is imperative to know them all cold along with all the chords. With that accomplished, “nothing will surprise you,” and expert sight-reading is assured. Modell stressed that such technical prowess is the key that unlocks the door to making music. Citing Timofei Dokshizer as a prime example, Modell praised the ability of great artists to transcend technical limitations in order to achieve new heights of artistic expression.
To demonstrate how sight reading reveals a player’s musicianship, Modell invited two previously selected students (high school and college level) to sight read the first half of an etude in D minor that was distributed as a handout to the audience. Modell played the excerpt after the students and noted that each player had a unique interpretation. The session ended with Modell and Wilt performing a transcription of “Nessun dorma” from Puccini’s Tosca. |
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trumpet in hand, Modell entertained and enlightened the audience with many anecdotes from his long and distinguished career. The main point Modell stressed throughout the entire session was that music is fifty percent technique and fifty percent musicianship. Unfortunately, Modell lamented, many trumpeters only focus on the first fifty percent (technique) and neglect the art of making music. 
With technique out of the way, Modell played several recorded examples of supreme musicians including the great Italian tenor, Giuseppe di Stefano, Timofei Dokshizer, and ITG Conference host Al Hood (who studied with Modell). He also treated the audience to a heartfelt rendition of Schubert’s Ave Maria with pianist Rebecca Wilt. 