Affiliate Event: New England Trumpet Workshop
The Bay State Trumpet Guild (an affiliate chapter of the ITG) hosted their second annual New England Trumpet Workshop on Sunday March 1, 2020.
The workshop was hosted by Dr. Spencer Aston and held on the campus of Bridgewater State University. Guest artists included Marie Speziale, Ashley Hall, and the New England Brass Band under the direction of Stephen Bulla. Trumpet players of all levels were in attendance, from beginning middle school students to professionals.
The workshop began with a warm-up session, led by Aston, focusing on the distinction between fundamental routines and warm-up routines with specific suggestions on how to incorporate them into your daily practice. Speziale then took the podium to lead the Massed Trumpet Ensemble in rehearsing James Olcott’s 12 trumpet arrangement of the Tuba Mirum Fanfare from Verdi’s Requiem as well as the world premiere of David Vess’s Cometsong, written specifically for this occasion.
Ashley Hall started the master class sessions by giving a presentation on “How Understanding Respiratory Mechanics Can Yield Consistency in Practice and Performance,” followed by a demonstration in applying some of her concepts with student volunteers. Marie Speziale than shared her wealth of knowledge through coaching additional students in a performance masterclass on various solo and trumpet ensemble repertoire.
Before breaking for dinner, Dr. Aston moderated a panel discussion with Ms. Speziale and Ms. Hall titled “A Life in Music.” Specific emphasis was placed on the guest artist’s experiences and accomplishments as world-class musicians and how Ms. Speziale’s accomplishments have opened up more opportunities for female performers in Ms. Hall’s generation and how that will translate to the next generation that were sitting in the audience of Horace Man Auditorium.
The first half of the evening concert featured several regional trumpet ensembles including the Bridgewater State University Trumpet Ensemble, Everett Jr. Trumpet Ensemble, University of Rhode Island Trumpet Ensemble, Boston University Trumpet Ensemble, and MASS Trumpet Ensemble. After a brief intermission, the New England Brass Band took the stage. Highlights included Paige Dyer (BU Student and winner of the 2020 NEBB Youth Solo Competition) on Arban’s Carnival of Venice. Ashley Hall was featured on the third movement of Philip Sparke’s Cornet Concerto and in a duet with Spencer Aston, To Set the People Free by Bruce Broughton. The band’s performance was rounded out with a cornet section feature by Stephen Bulla titled Concertante for Cornets.
Aston, Speziale, and Hall
Sponsors for the event include the BSU Department of Music, International Trumpet Guild, Bridgewater Local Cultural Council, Mass Cultural Council, and Bethesda Lodge #30 Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
(Source: Spencer Aston, instructor of trumpet, BSU)