The inaugural summer course of the Teror Trumpet Festival took place in Gran Canaria this July, in the hills overlooking Las Palmas. The course was directed by Pierre Dutot (Bordeaux, France) and John Miller (Manchester, UK), who took joint outdoor classes to start the day with warm ups and trumpet work-outs, definitely not for the faint-hearted, as well as offering advice on practice, performance and well-being.

The remainder of the days' work consisted of two parallel classes where participants could offer performances with piano accompaniment, orchestral excerpts, or just ask for playing hints of any sort. An exhibition was given by Stombi, where players could try a wide range of instruments and peruse a library of trumpet music, and the organisers were appreciative of the support of Stombi during the week.

All evenings could be taken up attending concerts in Teror, which, as well as nightly salsa classes and Latin music concerts, included a concert given by the trombones of the Gran Canaria Orchestra, a concert given by all participants, and finally a staff concert given by Pierre Dutot, David de Cruz (Gran Canarias Orchestra), Sebastian Gill (course organiser and multi talented trumpeter), John Miller, Ingrid Rebstock (Tenerife Symphony).

Participants of all ages and experience travelled from Spain, France and UK, and spent the entire week in a beautiful finca, amongst beautiful countryside, and replete with home cooked local food.

A future course is projected for July 2009.

Source: John Miller