Southern Miss Trombone Studio to Perform at The American Trombone Workshop

The University of Southern Mississippi's Trombone Choir and Select Octet has been invited to perform at the American Trombone Workshop at the culmination of their tour on March 10, 2017. Under the direction of Dr. Ben McIlwain, the group will perform with guest soloist MSG Sam Woodhead of The United States Army Band, “Pershing's Own.”

The tour begins at the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga, on Tuesday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the Roland Hayes Concert Hall. It continues at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville on Wednesday, March 8 at 3:30 p.m. in the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall located in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center. The group will finish the tour at the American Trombone Workshop on Friday, March 10 at 5 p.m. EST. This event, one of the largest annual events for trombone in the world, will be streamed live at http://www.usarmyband.com/trombone/.

This prestigious event gives students, performers, and educators an opportunity to meet and share ideas, talents, and opinions about the world of trombone.

”It's a really exciting opportunity for the Trombone Choir to play at the American Trombone Workshop,” said Jonathan McNeer, a junior music major. “It's awesome to showcase the great things going on in the USM Trombone Studio on a national stage.  It's great to get exposure to internationally renowned soloists and ensembles, as well as getting the chance to try out instruments and mouthpieces and network within the trombone community.”

The group is comprised of Dr. Ben McIlwain, conductor; Mark Whitfield, assistant conductor; Mondo Belmonte, Dane DeCuir, Starnes Dees, Brandon Jenkins, Grayson Mayne, Alex Petersen, Adam Johnson (bass), Erica Nichols (bass), and Select Octet members Taylor Jones, Thomas Ly, Jonathan McNeer, Joshua Mize, LaDarrius Smothers, Mark Whitfield, Scott Anderson (bass), Spencer Hudson (bass).

The American Trombone Workshop is the only professionally organized and staffed trombone workshop or conference in the United States. Soloists, educators, and students—as well as university and college trombone ensembles from around the world—attend the workshop annually.

The workshop hosts a number of solo and ensemble competitions for performers of all ages. Over 1,000 students and professional trombonists have submitted audition tapes for the various competitions sponsored by ATW since 1993. Competitions include the National Solo Competition, the National Jazz Solo Competition, the National Jazz Ensemble Competition, and the National Trombone Quartet Competition.

Funding for this trip was made possible with support and generous donations by Westminster Presbyterian Church, Main St. United Methodist Church, Oak Grove United Methodist Church, and Calvary Baptist Church (Columbia).