LSM gallery

Herseth demonstrates to an LSM student

Band conductor Fred Nyline and Herseth share a laugh in rehearsal

Herseth and his trumpet sing out Trumpeter's Lullaby during band rehearsal

Herseth recounts his days of service during WWII

This summer, Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival (LSM) was graced by a two-day visit from Adolph “Bud” Herseth, retired principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Herseth presented two brass master classes, attended LSM’s faculty brass ensemble recital, led an orchestra brass sectional, and even played Trumpeter’s Lullaby with the band during a rehearsal.

Lutheran Summer Music, in its 24th year, made its 2005 summer home on the campus of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Herseth, both a Luther College graduate and supporter of LSM, found himself quite at home on campus and around town, which made his visit even more memorable. Mr. Herseth was officially first welcomed by students, faculty, and guests alike in the Noble Recital Hall where the brass students gathered for their weekly master class. Two trumpet students each performed solo pieces that they’d been working on, including the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto, and received suggestions from Mr. Herseth on how to play with a more virtuosic style. Mr. Herseth also worked with several student brass quintets. In addition, Mr. Herseth discussed new ways to play orchestral solos, himself playing from memory examples from Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. He suggested that in order to add more lyricism to lines, a soloist should make up lyrics to fit the feel of the tune. To the trumpet solo found in The Great Gate of Kiev, Herseth provided the pompous lyrics (directed toward the conductor), "This is how I play, put your stick down, don’t conduct!"

The following evening, rather than the usual Student Recital, Mr. Herseth presented an open master class to the whole LSM community. A couple of trumpet students, as well as a student brass quintet, took to the stage one at a time to work with Mr. Herseth. He immediately put the performers at ease, encouraging them to "play a few notes" before jumping into their pieces. The brass quintet performed a selection originally by Gabrieli. Mr. Herseth joked that he wasn’t quite old enough to have worked with the composer personally but advised that, since Gabrieli (1558-1613) served as an organist at St. Mark’s in Venice, the group should play with an organ-like sound in mind. With the solo trumpet students, Mr. Herseth advised approaching solos with flexibility (in tempo, articulation, etc.), as each conductor tells a piece's "musical story" differently. Although Mr. Herseth’s advice on a French style of vibrato did not pertain to all in attendance, the audience thoroughly enjoyed his many anecdotes about his "good friends" Hindemith and Lenny (Bernstein).

On the morning of his departure, Mr. Herseth joined the band during their daily rehearsal. The ensemble accompanied Mr. Herseth on Leroy Anderson’s Trumpeter’s Lullaby, and then students were offered the opportunity to ask questions. Topics asked about included how to handle audition jitters, what it was like to play with the CSO, and inquiries into more stories about famous musicians Mr. Herseth has personally known. Mr. Herseth also shared war stories and, at one moment to the amusement of everyone in the room, pointed his trumpet like a rifle.

Everyone was sad to see Mr. Herseth leave, but his time and talent shared with the LSM community were greatly appreciated. Mr. Herseth inspired many students and charmed us all with his many enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival is a month-long musical experience for gifted high school and college students in band, choir, orchestra, and keyboard. LSM is held each summer on a Lutheran college campus. In 2005, 158 students came from 33 US states and 2 other countries. The program is open to students of all faiths. For more information, please visit the website.

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Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival