Organizer Valery Posvalyuk in his new ITG baseball cap

Jeffrey Piper presenting a master class

Under the direction of Valery Posvalyuk, The Professional Trumpets of the Ukraine met September 26–28, 2004 to celebrate the tenth year of their organization. The conference consisted of meetings, rehearsals, and culminated with a gala performance. The program consisted of solo and ensemble performances accompanied by the State Wind Symphony of the Ukraine conducted by Maestro Poshchak. In addition to the trumpet performances, the program also included a trombone quartet, brass quintet, and a wonderful saxophone soloist, Helen Eriomenko.

The program featured performances by Fred Mills (University of Georgia) and Jeffrey Piper (ITG vice-president and University of New Mexico). Mills performed several arrangements with brass ensemble including Gershwin’s Someone to Watch Over Me, Shostokovich’s Polka, and Tico Tico. Jeffrey Piper and organist Irena Kharechko performed several arrangements of Baroque works for trumpet and organ, as well as Tomasi’s Variations Sur Un Salve Regina. In addition, Piper conducted Joseph Turrin’s Festival Fanfare for Eight Trumpets. Valery Eriomenko brilliantly performed Elegia by Berdiev. Valery Posvalyuk performed his arrangement (for trumpet and winds) of the third movement of Telemann’s Sonata de Concert with a beautiful sound and technique reminiscent of Rafael Méndez. The program also featured a young Ukrainian virtuoso, Sergy Demianchuk performing Herbert L. Clarke’s Carnival of Venice. Demianchuk possesses a beautiful sound and tremendous technique, and was one of the highlights of the evening. Viacheslav Lisenko gave a beautiful rendition of the lyrical melodies of I Pray for the Power of Love by Bortniansky. Alexey Kolinko, Yuri Kafelnikov, and Konstantin Posvalyuk brilliantly performed a trumpet trio by Erik Leidzen. The program concluded with a very emotional and well played composition, Polgars’s Fanfare of Joy and Pride, which featured trumpet calls and echoes from remote parts of the concert hall, as played by the Professional Trumpets of the Ukraine. Compliments must also go to Ukrainian Guild members: Victor Davidenko, Grigory Kozdola, Roman Nakonechny, Dimitro Kovalchuk, Vladimir Kopot, Igor Baranovsky, Stepan Tsulupa, Anatoly Pogribny, Gregory Postoy, Pavlo Dubnik, Vadim Ivanov, Dmitro Gorbach, and Igor Borukh. Special mention goes to Alexander Backlagenko, high note specialist of the Ukraine.

At the conclusion of the Turrin Fanfare, Jeffrey Piper presented Valery Posvalyuk a plaque of appreciation from the International Trumpet Guild. Piper conveyed the following message to the audience:

It has been my pleasure to visit your wonderful country and experience the virtuoso trumpet playing of the Professional Trumpets of the Ukraine and help share in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of their trumpet guild organization. Members of the International Trumpet Guild, myself included, have long been impressed with the great talent, teaching, and literature associated with the art of the trumpet in Ukraine.

Recently, ITG produced a CD of the Trumpets of Ukraine. This recording has received excellent reviews throughout the world. I offer my congratulations to the Professional Trumpeters of Ukraine. In recognition of the these events, the officers and board of the International Trumpet Guild wish to present this plaque to Valery Posvalyuk and the members of the Ukraine Trumpet Guild.

The trumpet playing of the Professional Trumpets of the Ukraine is truly outstanding, as heard in the new ITG CD “Trumpet Players and Trumpet Performers of Ukraine” With the current political atmosphere, a newly declared independence, and now a lack of state-funded resources for musical organizations, many of our colleagues in the Ukraine are suffering financial hardships, yet their spirit is high, musicianship impeccable, and the trumpet playing is phenomenal.

The 10th Annual Celebration of the Professional Trumpets of the Ukraine was truly an outstanding event. Valery Posvalyuk and his colleagues deserve a standing ovation for their efforts in making the event a major success.

Website:
ITG product page for Ukraine trumpet CD (see text)