Masterclass: Davis and SAYOWE trumpets

Davis, Bowman and Sherry

During the last week of September, students from Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand assembled at the Regent Beach Resort in Cha-Am, Thailand where they formed the first ever Southeast Asian Youth Orchestra and Southeast Asian Wind Ensemble (SAYOWE). The students had the opportunity to rehearse and perform with an internationally recognized group of artists and teachers, and the chance to get to make friends and experience new cultures.

The trumpet students at SAYOWE worked closely with Dr. John Davis (Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies, University of Colorado-Boulder) and Dr. Joseph Bowman (Professor of Trumpet, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand) in sectionals, master classes, and private lessons, and got to attend performances featuring the artist faculty.

John Davis conducted a master class presentation that focused on the role of air in trumpet playing. Through the use of handouts and demonstrations, Davis emphasized to the students that air should be their focus when they are playing. Each student was given the chance to play though exercises, and they were given advice and suggestions for improvement. Davis highly recommended the exercises in Earl Irons' Twenty-Seven Groups of Exercises to the students for use when working on airflow. In Joseph Bowman's master class, several students performed. Raymond Deleon of Manila, the Philippines performed the Honegger Intrada. Bowman complemented Deleon on his energetic performance, and proceeded to offer suggestions concerning the musical interpretation of the work. Prakortchai Singhanart of Bangkok, Thailand performed part of Otto Kettering's Intrada, and also did a fine job. Students concluded each master class session by taking the opportunity to have questions answered by the artists.

In the evening concerts, Davis and Bowman were joined by Allen Meek and Tim Buzbee of the Singapore Symphony and Chalermchai Nuttased of the Bangkok Symphony for a performance of brass quintet standards. Also, Bowman and Dr. James Sherry (Director of Bands, Mahidol University) each performed solo trumpet selections.

Website:
SAYOWE