Inspired Performance, Dedicated Instruction
Thoughts and advice on performance techniques, theories, etc.
Hey, all!
These have been up for a while but I’ve neglected to get them on the blog. My April 3rd, 2017 recital in Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall at the University of Minnesota is now available in convenient YouTube form! Take a gander:
Thanks for watching!
*sheepishly pokes her head into her blog* *grins sideways*
Hey, there, old blog old friend! Guess what! I saw an amazing concert last night. I know, I know, I’m supposed to be creating original content in March based around celebrating women in brass history and brass present…I’ve just been so…busy. I’m so sorry. Can I tell you about the concert? It’s relevant, I swear. Yes? Ok!
Last night I had the pure joy and soul-sustaining honor to attend tenThing, a 10-piece, all female Norwegian brass ensemble spearheaded by trumpet virtuoso Tine (pronounced “Tina”) Thing (“Ting”) Helseth. The concert was held at Aria in the North Loop and presented by the Schubert Club.
It was so glorious. Their artistry, movement, collaboration, and joy were palpable from the back of the hall, and they didn’t shy away from anything (and why would they?), softs, louds, or otherwise. I started crying before they even finished coming onto the stage. This is an ensemble that uses all the colors in their vast palates to create pure music. Their program wasn’t particularly out there- lots of “standard” rep like suites from Carmen, West Side Story, and piano works from Mozart, Grieg, and Copland- but the arrangements were fresh and tailor-made to their style and grace.
(If you don’t believe me, check out the review in the Star Tribune)
This should come as no surprise, but my favorite section was the four masterful trombonists. They displayed absolute ease with all of the fast licks and pianos and brought golden fortes worthy of a major symphony performance, perfectly balanced in tone and in tune. The flugelhorn player and the hornist were also highlights- they interacted with one another often to express smiles over the music the group was creating, and of course Tine herself sparkled and danced. Her solo over Piazzola’s “Oblivion” was a highlight for me.
So there you have it. Go check out Tine, tenThing, and all the ladies bringing women-power to the brass world. The future is bright, my friends. Happy Women’s History Month. Let’s make some future.
I have a hot second here before spring semester really kicks into gear and I disappear under the weight of ‘getting a DMA’, so I thought I’d give you a few insights into what’s new in my world.
Yesterday I presented and performed at the BrassChix annual seminar, in the company of music greats like Takako Seimiya Senn, Melissa Williams, and Gail Williams, and it was, as always, an absolute joy to be a part of it. I had 11 trombonists in my session and loved working with one of them on her orchestral excerpts.
On January 9th, I performed selections from my 1st Doctoral Recital at St Louis Park Senior High School, to an audience of about 25 band students. They were a great audience and I hope to be back soon!
In upcoming news, I’ve scheduled my next recital for April 3rd at UMN and will be performing a program of diverse works, including the Nino Rota Concerto, Dutilleux’s Choral, Cadence, et Fugato, Barbara York’s A Caged Bird, the Wagenseil Alto Trombone Concerto, and John Kenny’s Fanfare. Stay tuned for more details. It will be live-streamed again.
My students are gearing up for solo/ensemble contest and All-State auditions, and a few are starting to think about college auditions. I’m so impressed the steps many of them took over winter break to practice and improve in all areas.
Keep an eye on this space for news from Brass Lassie, The Satellites, and Mill City Five. They all still exist- just hibernating, I promise!
Two really exciting things in January:
My performance at St Louis Park Senior HS, featuring selections from my December 2016 doctoral recital, is presented in part by the generous contributors to my Studio Scholarship Campaign. As you recall, the fund exceeded its goal and I allocated $300 to presenting clinics and performances in local schools. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to use this money, and if you’d like a performance at your school, please reach out to me!
At the end of January, BrassChix soars again! This is my 4th (or 5th?) year presenting for BC and I’m so excited for this year’s theme: How LOW Can You Go? We’ll be focusing on our sisters of low brass and the lowest notes from every horn.
All the info: BrassChix 2017
Well, 2016 is coming to a close, as all years do, and it’s been one of the most professionally exciting and challenging years yet! It was one of the most diverse years for types of gigs, music learned, and students taught. Here’s a little recap of what 2016 looked like for me:
Performance Highlights:
January: BrassChix presentation to 12 delightful young women trombonists plus a performance of the first movement of Red Dragonfly; performing Stravinsky’s Octet with Winona Chamber Winds
February: “Lunch With…” in Sundin Hall at Hamline, a 30 minute recital for the community; auditioning for the doctoral program at the U of Mn
March: Exultate Choir and Orchestra’s performance of their signature pasticchio mass; Easter services at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in S Mpls,
April: Sitting in with the Hamline Wind Ensemble on bass trombone
May: Conducting and performing with the Hamline Brass Choir; The Satellites played the Dakota and 612Brew; Metro Brass presented “Hold On Tight” at the Capri Theatre in N Mpls
June: Something like a month off? Ha!
July: Brass Lassie at the Minnesota Scottish Fair; The Satellites at the Icehouse; Mill City Five at Como Pavillon
August: Mill City Five at Minnehaha Falls and Bistro La Roux in Circle Pines; The Satellites back at Icehouse
September: My first performance with the UMN Wind Ensemble!
October: UMN Collage Concert, playing with both Trombone Choir and U Symphony Orchestra
November: Brass Lassie at Celtic Junction; UMN Trombone Choir feature recital; USO performance of concerto competition winners; Minnehaha Repertory Orchestra’s yearly concert
December: Holiday concerts with the UMN Trombone Choir, bass bone in the Hamline Wind Ensemble again; Holiday Polka with Brass Barn Polka Band at Bauhaus Brew Labs; Christmas services at St John the Baptist in New Brighton; and of course, my first doctoral recital!
Teaching Highlights:
I taught over 800 individual lessons this year to 30 different individuals, helping them win spots in All-State bands, local honor groups like GTCYS and Minnesota Junior Winds, preparing them for solo and ensemble performances, and overall enjoying their company and growth as astonishing young musicians and people. I’m incredibly proud to have raised of $3000 in scholarship funds to allow low-income students to take lessons for a year. I continued my work at Hamline University and took on a new collegiate job at Century College in White Bear Lake.
Personal Highlights:
I traveled to NYC, San Diego, Lutsen MN, St Louis, Iowa, and Chicago. I saw good friends and met amazing new folks. I hiked, kayaked, camped, and stewarded my gorgeous state’s natural resources. I biked all over Minneapolis and St Paul. I started my doctorate while balancing a full freelancing and educational career.
What’s in store for 2017?
The plan is to keep rocking it out. Brass Lassie, The Satellites, and Mill City Five all have more to come. My second doctoral recital is currently on the schedule for April 17th. I’ll present at BrassChix again in January and will also perform portions of my recital for the kids of St Louis Park. I have big ideas and big plans for both my teaching and my art, so stay tuned. 🙂
Well, friends, colleagues, and students,
School has started and I’m looking at a packed schedule on top of my already busy teaching and performing schedule! SO Monday recaps are going on a little vacation. Please don’t cry. I’ll still be posting here from time to time and I always keep my gig calendar updated.
Sincerely,
Lauren
Performances:
Satellites:
Sept 24 9p-1a Glueks Downtown
Mill City Five:
Sep 23 8-11p Bistro La Roux
Rehearsals: Free of rehearsals- It’s UMn Welcome Week!
Practicing: Annie Laurie, Red Dragonfly, Bitsch No 1, Telemann Canonical Sonata No 1, Rochut No 13. AND UMN Ensemble audition repertoire. *exhausted emoji*
Listening: Brahms 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGeY14HEleY
(LENNNYYYY)
Bonus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdMwTLbboBQ
Teaching: Going to be a light week of teaching. Hoping to get everyone feeling strong for school, which starts this week.
Studying: UMN entrance exams. On repeat. TOMORROW.
Relaxing: WTF’s (my women’s comic book club) 2 YEAR anniversary picnic, waking up and immediately taking a nap, bike rides, Eloise Butler.
Performances:
Satellites:
Aug 26 10p-1230a Icehouse
Sept 24 9p-1a Glueks Downtown
Mill City Five:
Aug 26 7-830p Minnehaha Falls Pavilion
Sep 23 8-11p Bistro La Roux
Rehearsals: Satellites on Thursday to learn three new songs for our sets at Icehouse Friday!
Practicing: Annie Laurie, Red Dragonfly, Bitsch No 1, Telemann Canonical Sonata No 1, Rochut No 13. AND UMN Ensemble audition repertoire. *exhausted emoji*
Listening: Lots and lots of Clara Schumann.
Teaching: Practicing habits for all modalities and learning styles.
Studying: UMN entrance exams. On repeat. This is next week. I won’t talk about it any more after that, I promise.
Relaxing: Kayaking, biking, hanging with friends, just trying to get all the summer in I can in the next two weeks.
Performances:
Satellites:
Aug 26 10p-1230a Icehouse
Sept 24 9p-1a Glueks Downtown
Mill City Five:
Aug 20 4-6p Bistro La Roux Patio Grand Opening party
Aug 26 7-830p Minnehaha Falls Pavilion
Rehearsals: No rehearsals for me this week.
Practicing: Annie Laurie, Red Dragonfly, Bitsch No 1, Telemann Canonical Sonata No 1, Rochut No 13.
Listening: Finished my arrangements of PYT and Come to My Party this weekend. I start next on Groove Me.
Teaching: Breathe.
Studying: UMN entrance exams. On repeat. New Recital Rep in the pipeline- Beethoven and Grafe and Fetter.
Relaxing: As much hammock time as I can fit in. And kayaking.
Lauren Husting, trombone 