Leonard Candelaria

ITG Past President and University of North Texas Professor of Music emeritus, Dr. Leonard Candelaria, presented master classes and concerts at the famed Moscow Conservatory of Music, the Moscow State Wind College and the Saratov Conservatory of Music in April of 2005. As a guest of Moscow Conservatory Professor of Music and Russian Trumpet Guild past- president, Vadim Novikov, Candelaria presented master classes on April 5 and 7 in which he worked with a number of the outstanding players of the conservatory trumpet class on various aspects of musical style and interpretation. During the master classes Dr. Candelaria performed a variety of solo works accompanied by the outstanding pianist/accompanist, Tatiana Orudyeva with whom he has performed several times during past visits to Moscow. Professor Novikov stated, “It is an honor to host Dr. Candelaria’s visit because, here in Russia, he is the most recognized and well known of American trumpet professors.”

Candelaria also presented a master class/demonstration for the students, faculty and invited guests of the Moscow State Wind College on April 8, 2005. This outstanding pre-university-level institution was founded and organized by its Rector, Rem Gehkt, Executive Director of the Russian Trumpet Guild. The institution, dedicated to the training of young wind instrumentalists between the ages of ten and eighteen years, celebrated its Fifteenth Year Jubilee in a concert presented in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory on October 15, 2005.

The next stop on Candelaria’s Russia visit was the Saratov Conservatory of Music where he was welcomed by his friends and colleagues of both the conservatory and the Volga Band. Candelaria presented two master classes in the conservatory and performed as soloist with the Volga band on April 16 under the baton of his UNT colleague, Professor Dennis Fisher. Solo works performed included Concerto in D by Tartini, Dramatic Essay by Clifton Williams, Concertino by Sachse, Amazing Grace arranged by Hooten/Reach, and La Virgen de la Macarena arranged by Mendez. The final encore consisted of three back-to-back performances of Tre-Mendez Polka in which Candelaria was joined by five trumpeters of the Volga Band. Upon returning to Moscow, Candelaria appeared as soloist performing works by Clifton Williams and Mendez with the Moscow State Wind College Orchestra in the Composers House on April 18, again under the baton of Fisher.

US Master classes

In March of 2005 Candelaria presented master classes and lessons to the trumpet studios of several of his own former UNT students including: University of Missouri, Dr. Iskander Akhmadullin, Professor of Trumpet; Missouri State University, Dr. Grant Peters, Professor of Trumpet; and the University of Central Arkansas, Larry Jones, Professor of Trumpet. On April 22 and 23, 2005 Dr. Candelaria was featured soloist with the Symphonic Band and the Wind Symphony of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Weatherford. Under the Baton of former student, Dr. James South, MME and DMA graduate of UNT and current President of the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, Candelaria performed Trumpeter’s Lullaby by Leroy Anderson with the Symphonic Band on April 21. On April 22 he performed movement one of Kent Kennan’s band transcription of his Sonata for Trumpet with the SWOSU Wind Symphony. Candelaria was joined by South in a performance of the Concerto for Two Trumpets by Vivaldi. Drs. Candelaria and South then welcomed to the stage Candelaria’s former student and well-known Oklahoma City trumpet artist, David B. Hooten, for a performance of Buglers Holiday by Leroy Anderson. Candelaria concluded his visit by presenting a master class to SWOSU students on April 23.

Candelaria’s master classes in the USA and Russia were partially underwritten by the Edwards Instrument Company. Travel and performances in Russia were supported by a Mini Grant from the University of Alabama at Birmingham College of Arts and Humanities. Leonard Candelaria has served as Professor of Trumpet and Artist in Residence in UAB following his 2003 retirement as Regents Professor of Music at the University of North Texas. Dr. Candelaria is a Performing Trumpet Artist for the Edwards Instrument Company.

Websites:
Leonard Candelaria at Edwards Instrument Company
Moscow Conservatory (in Russian, English scheduled to follow)