The trumpet students of Ibrahim Maalouf and Gary Mortenson prior to their joint concert at L’Oratoire du Louvre

KSU trumpet students outside the Musée du Louvre. L- R: Nate Edwards, Philip Ward, Rebecca Ronen, Brian Stuckenschmidt, Paul Mueller, Darren Brooks

Ibrahim Maalouf has won international solo competitions in France, Hungary, Finland, and the United States. He has held the title of Lauréat of the French Cziffra Foundation and of FMAJI (Festival of Young Musicians). Born in Lebanon, but raised and educated in France, Maalouf’s music assimilates both the western and eastern cultural traditions making him a unique and vibrant voice in today’s world. In November 2007, Maalouf released his first solo CD titled Diasporas that has been critically acclaimed by the music press in Paris and has been on the top ten jazz sales charts in France.

During the week of November 4, 2007 Gary Mortenson (KSU professor of trumpet) and the KSU trumpet studio hosted Maalouf for a series of concerts and master classes. The week culminated with two concerts, a Convocation Recital on Friday, November 9th in All Faiths Chapel at KSU and a concert at Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka on Sunday, November 11th. On the Friday program, Maalouf performed the first movement of the Hummel Trumpet Concerto with members of the KSU Symphony Band conducted by KSU Director of Bands Frank Tracz. Both concerts featured a new work titled Klezmarab composed by Maalouf for solo quarter-tone trumpet (performed by Maalouf), six trumpets, and solo violin. Kristin Mortenson performed as violin soloist. Klezmarab (commissioned by Gary Mortenson) was composed expressly for Maalouf’s KSU residency. Both concerts ended with an extended improvisation that featured Maalouf and KSU associate professor Kurt Gartner on percussion. Maalouf brought fifty copies of his new CD Diasporas with him to KSU and they all sold within three minutes of the conclusion of the Convocation Recital.

On November 20, 2007 members of the KSU trumpet studio flew to Paris, France for a series of master classes and concerts organized by Maalouf, who lives and works there. During that stay they performed with Maalouf’s students from the Conservatoire Superieur de Région de La Courneuve-Aubervilliers. On Friday, November 23rd, Trombamania, a professional trumpet quintet based in Paris, gave a master class for the Mortenson/Maalouf studios. Later that evening the KSU ensemble performed Capriccio for Six Trumpets by Allen Vizzutti as a prelude to a concert held to promote the CD release of Solea, Trombamania’s new recording just issued by Cristal Records and sponsored by Selmer Musical Instruments, Paris. The second encore on that program featured the combined forces of Trombamania, KSU, and the Conservatoire Aubervilliers performing Cityscapes by Erik Morales.

On Sunday, November 25th, Mortenson and Maalouf students performed on a concert held at L’Oratoire du Louvre across the street from the famous museum of the same name. Repertoire on that program included Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury by Benjamin Britten, Klezmarab by Ibrahim Maalouf, Glory to God in the Highest by Andreas Hammerschmidt, and Cityscapes by Erik Morales. This concert was made possible through the generous support of Madame Marie-Louise Girod-Parrot who had served as the organist at the cathedral for more than sixty years. A reception was held after the performance for all the participants on the concert. The KSU contingent flew back to Kansas the following morning.

As a side note, on November 29, 2007 French TV5 ran a one-hour documentary on the music and life of Ibrahim Maalouf. The film, titled Souffle! (directed by Christophe Trahand), aired to millions of viewers all over Europe.

Links:
Ibrahim Maalouf (in French and English)
Gary Mortenson at KSU