2013 second annual Fort Lewis College Brass Summit
Trumpeter and Parker Performing Artist Mary Elizabeth Bowden and Gregory Hustis, Principal Horn of the Dallas Symphony and Artistic Director of the Music in the Mountains Festival, performed and taught in Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, from April 18 to 21, 2013.
They participated in a Music in the Mountains fundraising event, the second annual Fort Lewis College Brass Summit, and gave two performances with the San Juan Symphony Orchestra. The Fort Lewis College Artist in Residence Fund, Music in the Mountains, and the San Juan Symphony Orchestra funded the events.
On Thursday, April 18, Bowden and Hustis teamed with Fort Lewis College faculty members Marc Reed (trumpet) and Linda Mack (piano) to perform for Music in the Mountain’s annual kickoff fundraiser at Jean Pierre restaurant in Downtown Durango. There were hors d’oeuvres, a French-themed dinner, and a recital of French brass chamber music. Works performed included Barat’s Andante et Scherzo, Liszt’s Oh! Quan je dors, both Gabriel Faure’s Three Songs for Horn and Piano and his Puisqu’ici- Bas Toute Ame, Bozza’s Lied, the Tomasi Concerto, Bozza’s En Forete, Marc Delmas’ Choral et Variations, Ravel’s Habanera, Leo Delibes Sous le dôme épais from Lakme, and the Vivaldi Concerto in F Major for Two Horns.
The Fort Lewis College Brass Summit was held on the morning of Saturday, April 20. Hustis lectured on the evolution of the music industry, establishing strong work ethic, and the pitfalls of the modern professional performing musician. Bowden spoke about practice fundamentals, daily playing habits, and personal marketing. The San Juan Symphony low brass section gave a thirty minute recital of orchestral excerpts and arrangements for low brass ensemble. Bowden and Hustis worked with high school and college students in a master class setting. The Fort Lewis College Brass Quintet performed Cheetham’s Scherzo, and after Hustis spoke about pushing the musical limits in every performance. Bowden tutored three high school trumpeters from Montezuma-Cortez High School on basic playing fundamentals like posture, breathing, and embouchure formation. Hustis worked with FLC freshman Christopher Sowder on slow practice, left hand position, and standing vs. sitting posture. Lastly, Bowden coached FLC senior Kelly Emery on conceiving a more musical styling of Bozza’s Rustiques.
Bowden and Hustis performed with the San Juan Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, May 20 at the Community Concert Hall in Durango, CO and on Sunday, May 21 at the Henderson Performing Hall in Farmington, New Mexico. Bowden was featured on Franz Joseph Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major and Hustis performed Lee Holdridge’s Ode to Orion. They teamed to perform a short encore by Marais that was scored for piccolo trumpet, horn, and orchestra.
Source: Marc Reed, Fort Lewis College