On Sunday December 11, 4 PM US Eastern Time (22:00 CET) we will celebrate ITA’s 50th anniversary with a Zoom session looking back on the early years of ITA. When and how did ITA start? And how has the organization developed into what it is today? The first ITA President Tom Everett will tell us about the early years, Stuart Dempster will discuss the various commissions he inspired. Other guests will be Joe Alessi, Irvin L Wagner, Ruben Carughi, Phil Wilson and many more. Come, join us! Full information >>
The November issue of your very favorite trombone newsletter has hit the stands. If you didn’t receive it, please visit this page, scroll down, and sign up. It’s easy. It’s free. Subscribers get the newsletter first.
Applications for the 2023 ITA Solo and Ensemble Competitions are now accepted through December 8, 2022. Applications should be submitted at: https://app.getacceptd.com/ita.
For full submission instructions, rules and information, please visit the competitions pages.
The 2023 competition finals will be held during the International Trombone Festival, July 12-15, 2023 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, USA. We hope to see you there!
Have you read the October newsletter yet? It features The Listening Corner, interesting trombone events, an announcement about our birthday and selected news of interest to our community.
Our newsletter is free to all. Subscribers receive the newsletter first, conveniently delivered via email. Past issues and the subscriber form can be found here:
Summer is a great time to explore the ITA’s Journal Browser and its handy searchable index! If you’re an ITA member, you have digital access to all of our past Journals.
We invite you to stop by the Members-Only section to learn more about member benefits.
The trombone is always on your horizon, so why not bring it along?
The ITA Newsletter features trombone news and events, a Listening Corner, practice tips, interviews, and more. It’s free and conveniently delivered to each-and-every subscriber.
A new video of Trombone Unit Hannover “talking trombone” is available in our Zoom session archive. Stop by to spend some time with this wonderful trombone ensemble.
Slide Into Spring 2022 – #hybridedition plus Crossbones from Belgium – all part of an incredible International Trombone Month!!!
On Sunday Apr 3, the 9th annual “Slide Into Spring: Calgary’s Trombone Day to celebrate International Trombone Week” was an amazing success on a number of levels!
First of all – we were able to gather in person after 2 long years! (but we still had an online option – hence #hybridedition). About 40 trombone players got together to be led through a warm-routine by Calgary Philharmonic Principal Trombonist, James Scott.
Then Gareth Jones, Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of Calgary rehearsed the entire ensemble through several pieces – most notably Ukraine’s National Anthem because #westandwithukraine
Participants had a chance to simply catch up, ask questions, and talk “all things trombone”. Dave Reid, Principal Bass Trombonist with the Calgary Philharmonic gave us all kinds of incredible trombone wisdom – in particular around the history and development of the… you guessed it: bass trombone!
A mini-concert was held at the end for friends and family and there was even a virtual submission of Malcolm Forsyth’s Trombone Quartet 74, 2nd movement: “Andante Ritmico” performed by the Calgary Trombone Quartet (Nikki McCaslin, Mark Harding, Nathan Gingrich and Greg Robertson).
But what was really the special announcement was that Calgary was going to host the Belgian Trombone Quintet “Crossbones” and a concert would be presented on Friday April 15!
Through the week of April 12, Crossbones Trombones delighted audiences in the Calgary region with their mix of jazz, classical, and even some pop tune arrangements for trombone quartet and quintet.
In this time of Covid, many music programs have been hit hard. Having live music and the incredible virtuosic playing of Lode Smeets, Peter Delannoye, Søren Brassaert, Pieter Vandermeiren, and Bram Meese in front of students was inspiring and engaging!
Their program included jazz standards like “Bluesette” by Belgian harmonica legend Toots Thielemans, John Williams’ “Olympic fanfare” as well as music from around the world and through the ages!
Their final concert on Friday April 15 was to a packed house at Hope Lutheran Church and garnered a standing ovation with an encore at the end as well!
This was not only a wonderful event, but also a reminder of the power of live music and the connections we have all yearned for over the last 2 years. We look forward to our next trombone day and getting to make new friends from across the world!
