TrumpetFest 2008 gallery

SSG Phillip Johnson and Mrs Jacquelyn Kuehn

IUP Jazz Ensemble for SSG Johnson's recital. L-R: Lauren Koharchik, piano; SSG Johnson; Wes Harler, percussion; Shane Velsor, drums; Justin Polyblank, tenor sax; Mike Majursky, bass.

SSG Johnson and Kevin Eisensmith

Scott Pribanich with his accompanist Lauren Koharchik

Tim Stevenson with his accompanist Karin Hetrick

On February 15-17 the eighth annual IUP TrumpetFest was held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  TrumpetFest 2008 featured student and faculty recitals, and a clinic and recital presented by SSG Phillip Johnson, a member of the trumpet section of the U.S. Army Field Band.

The Department of Music at IUP has over 350 students, most of whom are undergraduate music education majors.  The Trumpet Studio has 30 students at present and is taught by Dr. Kevin Eisensmith and Dr. David Ferguson.

Junior, Senior, and Graduate trumpet majors present recitals throughout the school year, but many choose to perform during the TrumpetFest weekend.  Among those presenting recitals this weekend were:

• John Byron, Monessen, Pennsylvania: junior – music education
• Jeremy Leidhecker, Williamsport, Pennsylvania: junior – music education
• Scott Pribanich, Allentown, Pennsylvania: senior – Bachelor of Arts
• Tim Stevenson, Brookville, Pennsylvania: graduate – performance

Eisensmith and Ferguson presented a recital on Friday evening, including: Ketting, Intrada; Scarlatti, Su le sponde del tebro (featuring soprano Jane Potter Baumer); Malcolm Arnold’s Fanfare for Louis; Scharnberg, N.O. Rising (with Dr. Christian Dickinson, trombone); and jazz selections including Beautiful Love, Lullabye of Birdland, and Sandu.

SSG Phillip Johnson presented a clinic on Saturday afternoon titled “Reducing the Variables in your Playing.” SSG Johnson received a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern Kentucky University, where he served on the faculty of the Stephen Foster Music Camps.  He earned a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, where he was a member of the internationally acclaimed UNT Wind Symphony and sat the jazz chair with the Two O’Clock Lab Band, as well as participating in many other school ensembles.  He also served as Teaching Fellow with the Department of Jazz Studies, Director of the Nine O’Clock Lab Band, and was winner of the 2003 UNT Concerto Competition.  Since December 2003, Johnson has lived exclusively as a road musician, and has performed in every state in the continental United States, as well as in Canada, Mexico, and overseas. He has recorded thirteen albums with various groups, appears on three commercial DVDs, and has served as a soloist and clinician at many universities and colleges.  He has performed with the Lexington (Kentucky) Philharmonic Orchestra, the Owensboro (Kentucky) Symphony, the Moscow Ballet, the Dallas Opera, the Cincinnatti Pops, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Johnson also presented a recital at 8:00 that evening and was assisted by Mrs. Jacquelyn Kuehn, piano, and members of the IUP Jazz Ensemble rhythm section.  His recital included: Stravinsky, Fanfare for a New Theatre (with Kevin Eisensmith); Böhme, Concerto in F Minor, Op. 18; Bitsch, Quatre Variations sur un thème de Domenico Scarlatti and several jazz selections, many composed by Johnson himself.

High school band directors and trumpet players from area schools were invited to attend, and all events were free and open to the general public.  The IUP Affiliate Chapter invited all ITG members to participate in TrumpetFest 2008, and thanks ITG for its financial support.

Links:
Kevin Eisensmith at IUP
David Ferguson at IUP
IUP Music Department