| ETSU Brass Day with Romms, Mitchell, Tennessee Brass | October 12, 2006 | |||||||||||
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As part of East Tennessee State University’s Brass Day on September 8th - 9th, the Avis/Ronald Romm Duo, Senior Master Sergeant Clarence Mitchell (The United States Air Force Band) and The Tennessee Brass performed two days of concerts and master classes held at ETSU and Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tennessee. Over 300 listeners attended the events leaving no student or lover of brass music disappointed. The event was organized and run by Dr. David Champouillon, executive director and co-principal trumpet of The Tennessee Brass, Bach performing artist, and associate professor of trumpet at ETSU. On Friday, September 8th, Senior Master Sergeant Clarence Mitchell of The United States Air Force Concert Band (Washington, DC) presented a master class for the music majors at ETSU. His topics included breathing, imagery, careers in music, life in the Air Force Band, and performing excerpts for the students on all the different pitched trumpets. He also coached ETSU trumpet majors Kelly Scollin (Hummel Trumpet Concerto) and Jeff Kleiber (Handel Suite in D). The improvement in their performance was instant. SMSgt Mitchell is also co-principal trumpet of The Tennessee Brass. Mitchell’s and Champouillon’s relationship goes back over 28 years beginning with their time together for four years in the United States Air Force Band of the Golden Gate at Travis Air Force Base, California, and studying together with Mr. Laurie McGaw, now retired associate principal trumpet of The San Francisco Symphony. On Saturday, September 9th, The Tennessee Brass held an open working rehearsal of that evening’s concert repertoire. Brass Day attendees were treated to a recital by the Avis and Ronald Romm Duo. Selections performed included traditional arrangements of The Carnival of Venice (Staigers) and La Virgen de la Macarena (Mendez). The highlights of the concert were original arrangements from the Romms’ two CDs (Wellness For The Soul, Vol. 1 “Seeing The Light” and Vol. 2 “Living The Dream”) including Jubilation, Pavane, The Ultimate Opera, Rhapsody In Blue, and Three Preludes. To conclude the recital, which drew a standing ovation, the Romms invited Champouillon to perform with them their arrangement for two trumpets of DeFalla’s Ritual Fire Dance. After the concert the Romms presented a master class based on fundamentals, musicianship, and true collaboration between trumpet and piano. Coaching sessions with Kelly Scollin (Hummel Trumpet concerto) and Tennessee Brass member Sarah Chumney (Tomasi Concerto) rounded out the session. The Tennessee Brass has become one of the leading professional large brass ensembles in the southeast and includes performers from a seven state area including The Symphony of the Mountains, Knoxville Symphony, Virginia Beach Symphony, Lexington Philharmonic, Johnson City Symphony, and faculty from Lander University, Appalachian State University, Grand Rapids State University, University of Tennessee, East Tennessee State University, and the University of Memphis. As the featured ensemble, The Tennessee Brass’ night concert included Fanfare from La Peri (Dukas), Fanfares Liturgiques (Tomasi), Four Preludes (Shostakovich), Requiem (Verdi), America, the Beautiful (Ward/Dragon), Nimrod, from Enigma Variations (Elgar), and Nessun Dorma from Turnadot (Puccini.) The concert’s highlight was Romm’s performance in A Tribute to Louis Armstrong with The Tennessee Brass which included When It’s Sleepy Time Down South and Hot Licks-Hot Lips and drew a standing ovation. Website:
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