Wow, another long absence from blogging and website updates, but it’s been pretty crazy here, with my teaching schedule, not to mention being blessed with the birth of my second child early in January.  Pretty much any time I might have free I’ve been trying to spend at home (trying to keep priorities straight), but I’ve found some time on the plane to share my thoughts about the International Trombone Festival this year.

 

And all I can say is, “Wow!”  I have only ever attended the ITF once before, in Nashville in 2001, and that was a very short trip.  This time, I arrived on Tuesday evening and stayed until early this morning (Saturday).  Over the course of this time, I saw some amazing performances.  The Trombones de Costa Rica, the Vienta sur Trombone Quartet from Argentina, Marshall Gilkes’ trio recital, and Ko-Ichiro Yamamoto’s solo count among some of the many excellent performances I heard.  But one tops them all:  the Oklahoma State Trombone Choir.

 

 

In addition, I found the festival to be extremely well organized, with venues well sorted out, and it was centered on the excellent performing arts center/music school of the University of Utah.  All in all, I had an absolutely wonderful time.  I strongly encourage any one who can to attend these festivals.  It really highlights some of the excellent playing, musicianship, and serves to continue and solidify the camaraderie we have among our trombone playing colleagues.

 

My hearty congratulations to all the participants and organizers of the ITF 2008 for a job extremely well done!