TROMBONE TROUPE
Will Porter, director
Ben Rochford, conductor
Aaron Burgess, conductor
Daniel Cook, conductor
Ho-Yin Kwok, conductor
Wishful Thinking is a musical journey—a vivid exploration of imagination, and collective triumph. This piece embodies a dynamic interplay of emotions, capturing moments of wistful and even playful optimism at times, all while hinting at the power that comes from creative freedom.
The piece begins in a world of soft, hopeful gestures, as if contemplating an aspiration yet to be realized. The melodies are wistful and tentative, like distant dreams on the horizon. As the sections of this piece unfold, we are led through a series of thematic and rhythmic transformations. Each section presents a shift in character, moving from delicate and solemn to more confident, bold statements, evoking the feeling of gaining newfound confidence, while still remaining open to new ideas and pathways.
The title of the piece, Wishful Thinking, might initially suggest something frivolous or ungrounded, but through the piece, this notion is reimagined. In fact, rather than being a distraction from reality, Wishful Thinking serves as a catalyst for innovation. It is through our hopes and aspirations, whether grounded in reality or in fantasy, that we find the courage to push boundaries, explore uncharted territories, and ultimately reach new heights. The piece invites the listener to embrace the power of their own "wishful thinking," to see it not as a distraction, but as a tool for growth, exploration, and the pursuit of what might seem impossible.
- Program Note written by composer
Fantasia for Eight Trombones is a dynamic piece that showcases the full range of the trombone octet. The music begins and ends with bold, powerful statements, framing a journey filled with overlapping motifs that weave through the entire work. Even in the quieter, lyrical moments, these motifs remain, tying everything together. The piece moves through a variety of styles, from energetic fanfares to lush chorales and intricate counterpoint, keeping both performers and listeners engaged. It’s a great fit for undergraduate trombone ensembles, offering plenty of opportunities to develop ensemble precision, dynamic contrast, and expressive playing.
- Program Note written by composer
When I decided to compose music with this title, the first thing that came to mind was a hazy, faded landscape. However, as I deepened my musical ideas, that blurred vision gradually cleared, transforming into a pristine sky filled with countless shining stars. It became a soundscape that could be described as sensual, elegant, and captivating. In this piece, I focused on the shifting colors of harmonies. While the music may feel calm on the surface, it carries a deep, intimate passion within. The piece flows seamlessly from beginning to end, without interruption. Enjoy the beautifully blended sound of the trombones.
- Program Note written by composer
"When Did We Forget" is an introspective and contemplative work for trombone ensemble that explores themes of loss, change and longing. The piece poses a poignant question: When did we forget the values that once bound us together in harmony?
The composition begins with a somber, reflective opening, gradually unfolding with individual voices rising above the melody. Through a series of shifting textures, the music ebbs and flows, mirroring the complex emotions tied to the notion of forgetting — of moving away from ideals that once seemed unwavering.
As the piece progresses, there is a sense of reconciliation: the music begins to suggest the possibility of reclaiming those ideals by introducing a groove with a single uplifting voice that builds and is joined by many - evoking a subtle but hopeful optimism.
Ultimately, the piece serves as a call to remember the importance of love and peace in a world often clouded by division and uncertainty. This composition is a tribute to the power of music as both a mirror of society and a potential catalyst for reflection and change. The Ithaca College Trombone Troupe’s performance brings to life this emotional journey, capturing the complexity of the human experience and the timeless quest to rekindle the values that once made us whole.
- Program Note written by composer
Gavin Anderson
David Castro
Victor Chicas Caceros
William Delaney
Estelle Kamrass
Elvis Lazo
Meghan Liang
Miguel Lopez
Nick Marks
Kate Martin
Ilan Medwed
David Miller
Elias Orphanides
Isiah Owens
Damian Simmonds
Madison Anglin is a composer, pianist, and arranger for all things screen, stage, and multimedia. She has apprenticed under Emmy-winning composer Jeff Russo after she was selected for the Television Academy Foundation Music Internship in 2023. Madison's scoring work has been featured in film festivals such as DOC NYC, The Atlanta Film Festival and The American Black Film Festival. Her music has been performed by members of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as well as the Chromatic Brass Collective. She holds a Master's Degree in Screen Scoring from NYU and a Bachelor's in Music Composition from Belmont University, where she founded the campus’s first women empowerment organization. A high spirited creator and collaborator, Madison enjoys the art of storytelling through music.
Dayla D. Spencer (b. 2005) is a composer, arranger, and trombonist based in north New Jersey. Spencer primarily writes for chamber winds and wind band. Her works have been performed at various conferences including the International Trombone Festival and the Southeastern Tuba Euphonium Conference (SERTEC). She was accepted into the Emerging Composers Program for the 2024 Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival at the Juilliard School of Music. Her work, "Abstract" for trombone ensemble, was also accepted into the 2024 International Trombone Festival Composers Workshop in Fort Worth, Texas and performed by the International Women's Trombone Choir. She has been commissioned by various organizations and ensembles, including the Southeastern Women in Music Symposium, the Ithaca College Trombone Troupe, and the Varsity Tuba Quartet. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Spencer currently majors in music theory & composition at Montclair State University, where she studies composition with Patrick Burns and trombone with Nathan Mayland.
Born in Kyoto, Japan, Yukiko Nishimura began her musical journey of her own volition at an early age. She started taking piano lessons at the age of four and began learning composition at seven. After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts with a degree in composition, she continued her studies at the University of Miami and the Manhattan School of Music. She has been commissioned to compose numerous works for performers, ensembles, and organizations. Among her projects, she composed music for Edison's Frankenstein (1910)—the first silent horror film in American cinema history—as well as theatrical musicals and collaborative works incorporating Noh, the traditional Japanese theater art. Over a hundred of her compositions have been published by leading publishers in both the United States and Japan. Among her honors are a special mention at the 15th and 26th International Competition for Original Composition for Band in Corciano, Italy, and the 6th Aoyama Award. In recent years she has been nominated for the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 12th Hollywood Music in Media Awards in the "Contemporary Classical" category. Yukiko studied composition with Atsutada Otaka, Alfred Reed, Richard Danielpour, and Giampaolo Bracali and piano with Ivan Davis and Sara Davis Buechner.
Trombonist Melissa Gardiner has performed with several legendary musicians including Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, Geri Allen, Wycliffe Gordon, Arturo O'Farrill's Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, Dave Matthews Band, and Vulfpeck. As a bandleader, she has released three albums, Transitions (2011), Second Line Syracuse (2016), and Empowered (2019) which features prominent jazz women Tia Fuller (Beyonce) and Ingrid Jensen. Gardiner has won several awards as a bandleader including two Syracuse Area Music Awards (SAMMYS) for Best Jazz Album, and grand prize winner at the International Jazz Competition in Bucharest, Romania (2018). In addition to an active performance career, Gardiner is the music teacher at the Institute of Technology at Syracuse Central and has teaching credentials at Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, Syracuse University and Cornell University. She has been recognized as an outstanding educator in the Liverpool High School Fine Arts Hall of Fame (2018) and the SAMMYS Hall of Fame (2019). Gardiner received her BFA from The University of Michigan and MM from The Juilliard School. She is a BAC artist and plays a BAC Custom Trombone.