Frühling Posaunen Comes to Penn State
The trombone choirs of Eastman, Ithaca and Penn State are continuing the annual tradition of the Frühling Posaunen Festival in this coming April with it being hosted at Penn State! This year the event invites many new and special guests including the legendary Jay Friedman, Dr. Brad Edwards from Arizona State University, and the jazz trombone quartet Bonegasm. The event will also feature guest performances from the Fredonia Trombone Choir, MATCH (Mid-Atlantic Trombone Choir) and the Pennsylvania All-State Trombone Choir (more information here) as well as the choirs of Eastman, Ithaca and Penn State.
Our Special Guests
Jay Friedman
Jay Friedman is the legendary principal trombonist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has been since 1964. Jay Friedman attended Yale University on scholarship and majored in composition at Roosevelt University. After four years with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and two years with the Florida Symphony, he joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1962 and was appointed principal trombone in 1964. He has soloed with the CSO on several occasions, including a concerto by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich. Friedman is also an active conductor and was also named the music director of the Symphony of Oak & River Forest in 1995.
Dr. Brad Edwards
Dr. Brad Edwards is the Professor of Trombone at Arizona State University. He is also an accomplished performer and was a member of the Air Force Band and principal trombonist of the South Carolina Philharmonic, Symphony Orchestra Augusta, and the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony. He also has shared the stage with many diverse artists such as Dr. Edwards is best known for his pedagogical books and writings including Lip Slurs, Lip Slur Melodies as well as the Trombone Craft and Simply Singing for Winds series. For the event this year he will be conducting and directing the Pennsylvania All-State Trombone Choir.
Bonegasm
Bonegasm is a trombone jazz quartet based in New York made up by Jennifer Wharton, John Fedchock, Alan Ferber, Nate Mayland. The group features music by up and coming artists like Sara Jacovino and Edward Perez as well as Grammy veterans like John Fedchock, Alan Ferber and Jim McNeely. They also have a debut of their first album, Bonegasm, coming out February 1, 2019.
About Frühling Posaunen
The Frühling Posaunen (Spring Trombones) Festival is an annual event in its 30th year. It was started in Spring 1989 by Dr. John Marcellus of the Eastman School of Music, Dr. Harold Reynolds of Ithaca College, and Penn State’s Mark L. Lusk. The idea was to get the trombone students from three different academic institutions together annually on Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) to share their music and ideas. The event over the years has featured a diverse array of guest artists, and guest ensembles from many other fine schools of music. Over the years thousands of trombonists and guests have enjoyed the variety of music presented at the main concerts, and especially the grand finale which often combines all the participants.
Tentative Schedule of Events
11:00 - 12:30: Pennsylvania All-State Choir rehearsal with Dr. Brad Edwards
12:30 - 1:00: Mass Choir rehearsal with Professor Mark L. Lusk
1:00 - 2:00: Performance by Bonegasm followed by a discussion
2:00 - 3:30: Discussion and masterclass with Jay Friedman
4:00: Final Concert
Penn State
PA All-State Trombone Choir
MATCH (Mid-Atlantic Trombone Choir)
Fredonia
Ithaca
Eastman
Mass Choir Finale
Pennsylvania All-State Trombone Choir
New to the Frühling Posaunen Festival is the addition of the Pennsylvania All-State Trombone Choir! The Pennsylvania All-State Trombone Choir is an audition-only ensemble made of young and talented students from across the state. This group is a wonderful opportunity for these trombonists to play and perform with their peers as well as the experience of interacting with the special guests of Frühling Posaunen and the collegiate trombonists. Exceptional auditions in this group also comes with the opportunity to win a new professional trombone donated to us for the event. We urge anyone who knows a talented young trombonist to submit a nomination form here. You can also find more information about the event and the audition process on the flier below.
