Louisiana Trombones
Louisiana Trombones is an annual event for trombone enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels. Join us for a day of playing trombone, listening to trombone, and learning about trombone!
Participants are encouraged to register in advance for a day of trombone playing in one of two trombone choirs with guest conductors, guest artist recital, masterclass instruction, and a performance at the end of the day.
Louisiana Trombones 2021
May 2021
Saturday, May 15, 2021
Events are held at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Angelle Hall Band Room.
601 E St. Mary Blvd.
Lafayette, LA.
Participants will receive a day long parking pass.
All participants are required to adhere to University of Louisiana at Lafayette COVID-19 Safety Protocols. These include: wearing a face mask when not performing, using a bell cover (at least single layer), and social distancing.
Louisiana Trombones 2020 Schedule:
9:30- Registration and parking information
10:00- Trombone Choir Rehearsal
11:15- Guest Artist Recital:
Dr. Michael Smith, tenor and bass trombones. Dr. Benjamin Yates, alto and tenor trombones. Ms. Louisa Peng, piano.
Noon- Lunch. Guests may choose to enjoy lunch on or off campus
1:30- Trombone Choir Rehearsal
2:30- Masterclass, Dr. Michael Smith
3:15- Break, move stands/equipment to union
3:30- Trombone Choir Dress Rehearsal (Location: Union, Cypress Lake)
4:00- Trombone Choir Recital (ULL Union, Cypress Lake)
Guest Artists 2021
Louisiana Trombones is dedicated to the education of professional, student, and amateur trombonists. Guest artists not only present a recital each year, but also provide a masterclass featuring ways of improving as a student, and conduct the participant trombone choirs.
Dr. Michael Smith
Masterclass, Guest Recital, and Trombone Choir conductor.
Dr. Michael Smith is currently Associate Professor of Low Brass at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he teaches low brass, low brass methods, coaches small brass ensembles, and conducts the Luther College Brass Choir and Trombone Choir. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, a Master of Music Education from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and a doctorate in Trombone Performance and Literature from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Prior to his appointment at Luther College, Dr. Smith taught at Millikin University, Knox College, and at the University of Illinois as the head teaching assistant in the trombone studio from 1996-1999. He has also taught at the Luther College Summer Dorian Camps and the Illinois Summer Youth Music Trombone Camps at the University of Illinois. He has been a guest clinician, soloist, and conductor at the 2003 Georgia Honors Low Brass Choir at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga., the 2002 Illinois Honors Trombone Choir in Chicago, the 2001 Illinois Honors Trombone Choir held at the University of Illinois, the 2000 Illinois Junior Trombone Symposium in Chicago, and was the co-founder and conductor of the University of Illinois High School Laboratory Trombone Choir. His awards from the University of Illinois include the Robert Gray Trombone Award, the Albert A. Harding Award, and the Mark H. Hindsley Award. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Alpha Chi, and Phi Kappa Phi.
Dr. Smith was principal trombonist with the University of Illinois Wind Symphony under the baton of James F. Keene. As a member of the Illinois Wind Symphony, Dr. Smith went on tour to Great Britain and was also a soloist with the ensemble. He was also a soloist and made two U. S. tours with the University of Illinois Trombone Choir. He has performed with the Longview Symphony Orchestra (Texas), Rapides Symphony Orchestra (La.), Lake Charles Symphony (La.), Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera (Ill.), Decatur Symphony (Ill.), Danville Symphony (Ill.), Champaign-Urbana Symphony (bass trombone), the Rochester Symphony Orchestra (Minn.), Dorian Opera Theatre Orchestra (Iowa), the Dubuque Symphony (Iowa), and the Cedar Falls-Waterloo Symphony (Iowa). He also performed with Stuart Dempster at the 1997 International Trombone Festival. He is currently the bass trombonist with the Rochester (Minn.) Symphony Orchestra. His teachers include J. Mark Thompson, William Rose, Nathaniel Brickens, and Elliot Chasanov.
Announcing Louisiana Trombones 2022
May 14, 2022
Guest Artist: Dr. Jason Sulliman
Dr. Jason Sulliman is Assistant Professor of Trombone at Troy University and Trombone Tutor for the North American Brass Band Summer School in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Previous teaching positions include the University of North Alabama and Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana. Jason has a unique background in kinesiology as well as music, and his research combines the disciplines of brass pedagogy, motor learning, and cognitive science. He has given hundreds of clinics and guest lecture appearances all over the United States including The Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, TMEA, the International Trombone Festival, the International Trumpet Guild, the Juilliard School, and the Eastman School of Music. Jason is also in high demand all over the world as the creator and consultant for the Sulliman Stability Training Method, which helps wind instrumentalists develop their embouchure utilizing research based in physiology, neuromuscular control, and biomechanics as well as traditional brass pedagogy.
Louisiana Trombones
Thanks to our supporters!
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More information on the M&W Custom Trombones site.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Trombonist and music educator Benjamin Yates is Assistant Professor of Trombone at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Dr. Yates performs with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra and Louisiana Brass Quintet. Yates is a M&W Custom Trombones artist and a MADPipe trombone mouthpiece and lead pipe system artist.
Cutaway Mouthpieces
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More information found on the MKS Cutaway Mouthpieces site.
More Information
Please contact Dr. Yates with questions or for further information about Louisiana Trombones.