COOKEVILLE, Tenn. (March 21, 2007) – Tennessee Tech University’s student trombone choir is one of only three college trombone ensembles invited to perform at this year’s Eastern Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C.

Trombones at Tech took the stage on Thursday, March 22 — but don’t worry if you missed the performance. The group will also present its program to a Cookeville audience in a show set for 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 26, in the Wattenbarger Auditorium of the Bryan Fine Arts Building.

The TTU group joined collegiate ensembles from Penn State and Boston University to perform at the Eastern Trombone Workshop, hosted by the U.S. Army Band.

“Only two or three college trombone choirs are invited to perform at this event each year, so it’s a real honor to be included at such an exclusive level in such a prestigious event,” said Joshua Hauser, director of Trombones at Tech.

But Trombones at Tech’s prestigious performance wasn’t the university’s only representation at the event. A TTU 2006 alumna, Jennifer Griggs, competed as a semifinalist in the National Trombone Solo competition at the workshop.

During its performance, Trombones at Tech presented a preview of the program from its forthcoming compact disc recording, made possible by a grant from the university’s Quality Enhancement Plan and available later this year.

It includes music by Nelhybel, Premru, Bellando and Edwards, as well as works composed by Hauser and TTU alumnus Aldo Forte and premieres of new works by TTU alumnus Glenn Martin and professor Greg Danner.

Hauser, who has devised a series of unique trombone warm-up exercises for his students, will also lead a warm-up session at the Eastern Trombone Workshop at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 24.

“This session includes the use of mp3 play-alongs and use of the Internet to help locate warm-up and basic technical exercises to include in practice routines,” he said.

The session will conclude with examples from Hauser’s new “Donut Etudes: Coordination Studies in 12 Keys for Four-part Trombone Ensemble,” published by Cimarron Music Press.

The name "Donut Etudes" comes from a tradition begun in Hauser’s warm-up exercises with Trombones at Tech. “The first person to miss a note has to buy doughnuts for the group,” he explained.

For assisting with various aspects of the CD recording and/or the performance tour, Hauser and Trombones at Tech would like to thank Arthur LaBar, chairperson of TTU’s music and art department; R. Winston Morris, tuba professor; Mark and Jennie Morette, Dan Rudin and Ted Wilson, for recording and copyright advice; Andrew Coggin and Adam Richey, recording engineers; Jim Lotz, recording techniques professor; Big “O” Donuts; Bryan Doughty and Cimarron Music Press; Ada Haynes, director of TTU’s QEP; TTU’s Student Affairs Office and Student Monies Allocations Committee; Darrell Garber, dean of the College of Education; and Marvin Barker, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs.

“Recording this CD and performing at the Eastern Trombone Workshop are both excellent opportunities for reputation building — both for Trombones at Tech and for the university as a whole,” Hauser said. “We appreciate the support of everyone who’s helped us achieve these goals.”

--Tracey Hackett
This information posted 22 March 2007