The Trombone Choir will take center stage in Moody Music Hall on Monday to perform songs from an array of popular movies.
The Trombone Choir, composed of several music-major undergraduate and graduate students, practices twice a day in preparation for its show, “Trombones At The Movies.”
Ben Carrasquillo, a junior majoring in trombone performance, said the upcoming concert rehearsals have been both challenging and rewarding.
“This concert that we are doing next week is easily the hardest one that I have been a part of since I’ve been here,” Carrasquillo said. “The reason for that is because we are playing music that is meant for an entire orchestra and it’s just being condensed down to trombones.”
Russ Ballenger, a doctor of musical arts student, and Carter Hanthorn, a sophomore in the Trombone Choir, both said the material can be difficult at times.
“They’re pretty intense,” Hanthorn said. “There is a high level of performance at every level. It’s some of the hardest music I ever played.”
Ballanger said the material does indeed takesits toll on the performers.
“This music is very demanding both mentally and physically,” Ballanger said about rehearsals. “The trombone is playing every part in the orchestra. We’re playing string parts, violin parts.”
The Trombone Choir is under the leadership of Jonathan Whitaker, a renowned performer who was featured at Carnegie Hall in 2012 and on “Glass Bead” with Albany Records.
“[The Trombone Choir] is comprised of all the students that are in the Trombone Studio at Alabama,” Whitaker said. “They all take private lessons with me as part of their majors. It acts like a lab with a chemistry class. You go to chemistry class, and you learn about something. Then, you go to lab, and you try it.”
Accompanying the Trombone Choir will be guest artist James Nova of the Pittsburgh Symphony, who also arranged the upcoming concert.
“He arranged as a side project a bunch of trombone arrangements of movie music,” Carrasquillo said. “Dr. Whitaker thought it was awesome and asked if he would be willing to come down. He’s going to be coming down and playing all the top parts.”
Whitaker said he thinks a professional guest will help improve the students’ performance.
“Just the level of attention and preparation for the concert – it just really affected them because they know that they are going to be playing with a pro,” Whitaker said. “They are going to be playing with a leading artist in our field, so there is a high expectation from the students.”
Reflecting on the past three years of his college experience, Carrasquillo said being a part of the Trombone Choir has been a busy but remarkable experience. He said his favorite moments have been playing in front of other musicians.
“It triggers so many different emotions, thoughts, and memories. Everyone in the world can [relate] feelings and events in their lives to different types of music,” Whitaker said.
The concert will take place Monday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Moody Music Hall.
