STUDIO NEWS
December 2009
Congrats to Norman Blakely and Stephen Incata for their selection to the 2010 Intercollegiate Band. This group will perform at the 2010 KMEA Conference. Congrats!
November, 2009
Senior Jon Nash was selected for the KMEA Intercollegiate Jazz Ensemble and will also perform at the KMEA conference. Excellent!!
Taylor in Germany, part 2. Here is his account of a recent concert he played on Thanksgiving Day (a day like any other in Germany):
And on this thanksgiving day, I had an orchestra concert and attached are some fotos from this concert. It was some sort of Benefit Concert (for what/whom, I have no idea) and it was a concert featuring the Jazz orchestra AND the symphonic orchestra. We only played two things- Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite and Ravel's Bolero. First, the orchestra would play the original movement of the suite, the the jazz orchestra would reply with the SAME movement but from Duke Ellington's Nutcracker suite. We basically went back and forth playing movements of the Nutcracker suite; one in its original version, one in the swinging big band version. It was great fun, both groups sounded really good.
That took about an hour and 15 minutes, then we had an intermission. When we resumed, we played Bolero. The way it worked was this: Orchestra play about half of it, then the jazz band joined in as the orchestra faded away, leading into some AWESOME solos by a trombone and sax in the jazz group. They continued to play for about 10 minutes of some arrangement of Bolero for jazz band, then it slowly faded right back into where we had left off beforehand. Then we finished it up.
The crowd loved it, it all went very well. All of us orchestra/jazz members were rewarded with a "finest selection" of chocolate each from a really tasty chocolate company.
October, 2009
Senior Grant Jones was selected for the KMEA Intercollegiate Orchestra which will perform at the KMEA conference this Spring. Way to go Grant!!
September, 2009
Studio member Taylor Clements is spending the Fall semester studying in Regensburg, Germany. He is pictured below with the Rotary Trumpet he will be playing while there.
May, 2009
Dr. Swisher had two more arrangements published through Eighth Note Publications (Ontario, Canada): Gabrieli's Sonata Piano e Forte for Brass Ensemble and Trumpet Ensemble.
April, 2009
The MSU Wind Ensemble just returned from a very well-received concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Pictured below is the WE trumpet section: Stephen Incata, Chris Buis, Grant Jones, Addisson Grimm, Nick Calcamuggio and Gabe Charbonneau. Congrats guys on a great concert!
Additionally, alumnus Zach Kingins will be entering the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University to work on his MM in Trumpet Performance next fall. Congrats Zach!
February, 2009
The Trumpet Ensemble will once again compete in the National Trumpet Competition Semi-Finals. The group will be performing Eric Ewazen's Fantasia for Seven Trumpets. Ensemble members include: Stephen Incata, Gabe Charbonneau, Chris Buis, Nick Calcamuggio, Bethany Doll, Keith Dossett, Grant Jones.
January, 2009
Dr. Swisher's method book, Basic Skills for the Developing Trumpeter, has been accepted for publication through Charles Colin Music Publications (New York, NY).
August, 2008
We are excited to announce that Mr. Kyle Millsap, DMA-Trumpet candidate from the University of Memphis, will join Dr. Swisher as an instructor in the Murray State Trumpet Studio. He is an extremely talented and versatile performer and an excellent teacher. We are very fortunate to have him with us.
Dr. Swisher's trumpet ensemble arrangement of W.A. Mozart's Overture to the Marriage of Figaro was published by Eighth Note Publications.
April, 2008
Guest artist Tony Plog will visit Murray State to work with the trumpet students as well as the rest of the brass studios and the Wind Ensemble. Mr. Plog is a highly respected composer and former trumpet player. His bio can be viewed at his webpage: www.anthonyplog.com We look forward to his visit!
March, 2008
The MSU Trumpet Ensemble was accepted and competed at the National Trumpet Competition. Mark Woodring also competeted in the College Solo Division. Congratulations to all on outstanding performances!
Mark Woodring has also gained acceptance into two of the most prestigious schools in the country for a Masters degree in Trumpet Performance: Indiana University and the University of North Texas. He now has a difficult choice to make. Congratulations Mark!
Januray, 2008
Dr. Swisher's Article "Teaching Trumpet Sound Production" was printed in the Bluegrass Music News and Tempo! The official journal of the New Jersey Music Educators.
March 15th, 2007
The MSU Trumpet Ensemble was awarded 6th prize at the National Trumpet Competition. Finalists were:
1. Northwestern University |
|---|
2. Boston University |
|---|
3. The Juilliard School |
|---|
4. The University of Oklahoma |
|---|
5. The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) |
|---|
6. Murray State University |
|---|
7. Kansas University |
|---|
Murray State trumpet students Norman Blakely and Zach Kingins also competed in the College Solo Division semi-final round.
February 8th, 2007
Dr. Swisher made a presentation to the Kentucky Music Educators Conference entitled Trumpet Sound Production.
August 23rd, 2006
Dr. Swisher performed the Arutunian Concerto for Trumpet in A-flat at the International Trumpet Seminar in Truro, England.
June 8th, 2006
The MSU Trumpet Ensemble performed at the 2006 International Trumpet Guild Conference.
A review of our performance:
The Murray State University Trumpet Ensemble, under the direction of Eric Swisher, performed three enjoyable pieces for their concert prelude. First up was the Sonata a 7 by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber performed with organ and timpani. The group featured a warm sonorous blend and fine piccolo trumpet playing. Ronald Lo Presti's uplifting work, Heralding, spotlighted an outstanding solo trumpeter who opened the work playing from memory. The final selection was Fanfare by Gunther Schuller. Throughout the program, the ensemble played with vibrant precision, intonation, and conviction. A most enjoyable prelude!