Introducing our final guest of the season we have the incredible Martin Schippers. From first taking lessons with his grandfather to now becoming one of the most prevalent and respected musicians of today. Martin goes in depth about his musical upbringing, approach to work/life balance, and elaborates on new upcoming projects. Martin is currently the current tenor/ bass trombonist of the Royal Concertgebouworkest and professor at Lucerne University in Switzerland, and has appeared at numerous events and festivals such as the International Trombone Festival, Lätzsch Trombone Festival, and Peru Low Brass Festival just to name a few.
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Transition Music #1: Colores, Steven Verhelst, feat. Martin Schippers and the Schwob Trombone Ensemble
Transition Music #2: Devil's Waltz, Steven Verhelst, feat. Martin Schippers and Tomer Maschkowski
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
For our second to last episode this season, we have the most subbed brass musician on YouTube, Christopher Bill. Originally building his brand on YouTube in the 2010s and expanding to several other social medias, Chris started his channel with all-trombone arrangements of popular songs and has gained serious popularity since then. Now known internationally for his arrangements, compositions, and his album Half Man, Half Machine, Christopher Bill has one of the most unique careers of nearly any musician out there, giving us a great unique interview full of experiences we have yet to hear.
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Transition Music #1: Power Down, Christopher Bill
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
Exciting episode today, as we have an international guest on the podcast today, interviewing Ilan Morgenstern! Ilan has experienced such a spectacular orchestral and solo playing career. He has subbed with numerous top orchestras across the United States and even overseas in Israel such as Israel Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Detroit Symphony, and many more. He has won many awards from internationally renowned competitions including the Jeju International Brass and Percussion Competition, Zellmer-Minnesota Orchestra Competition, and the National Repertory Orchestra’s Concerto Competition. His official positions in the past include San Antonio Symphony, Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, and Kansas City Symphony. Originally from Rehovot, Israel, Ilan has unique stories about his time growing up in Israel, how he eventually moved to the United States for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and continue through his progression as one of the top bass trombonists in North America up until his present day position in the Vancouver Symphony.
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Transition Music #1: Ballade for Bass Trombone Strings and Harp, Eric Ewazen, featuring Ilan Morgenstern, Rachel Ferris and the San Antonio Symphony
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
Continuing on with the second half of season 4, our guest today is Dr. Joshua Bynum, Professor of Trombone at the University of Georgia (Athens). We have a new record breaker set with this one as this is now the longest episode we have done so far, and it is absolutely full of truly incredible information and wisdom, for all ages, especially those who are getting into the collegiate teaching world. Dr. Bynum has had phenomenal teachings and pedagogy throughout his college years studying at Jacksonville State University, Temple University, and the University of Iowa. He is recognized as a great trombone professor and trombone player, giving clinics and performances at the Eastern Trombone Workshop, International Trombone Festival, Georgia Music Educators Association Conference, JanFest, and various workshops across the nation. Dr. Bynum’s regular duties outside of Professor of Trombone include the Georgia Brass Quintet, the MOD[ular] Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and the Resonant Projection trombone quartet. In this episode we discuss his early life, his thoughts on college football, how he got into the teaching world, and how he has developed a fantastic studio over the years at the University of Georgia.
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Transition Music #1: Georgia On My Mind, Arr. Sammy Nestico, featuring the UGA Trombone Choir
Transition Music #2: Reflection & Celebration, David Wilborn, featuring the UGA Trombone Choir
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
It’s time for us to begin the second half of season 4 and today for our guest, we have the amazing Myles Blakemore! Myles serves as trombonist in the US Navy Band and is also the Professor of Trombone at Howard University. Prior to those positions he has held a position with New World Symphony, was the inaugural Minnesota Orchestra fellow, and participated in National Repertory Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival and Brevard Music Center. Performing on international stages such as Baltimore Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic, International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop and many more, he has an incredibly rich story for us today, and its nowhere near the end! We naturally talk about his beginnings as a trombonist, exploring his earliest starts to being a fellow at New World Symphony, and his current life in the US Navy Band. We even discuss his process of making his album that is out now and is entitled "Bach-Ish," we highly recommend checking out after this interview to show your love for this terrific musician!
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Transition Music #1: The Gift of Little G for Trombone and Piano, featuring Myles Blakemore
Transition Music #2: Hommage a Bach pour Trombone et Piano, featuring Myles Blakemore
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
It’s time for our mid-season finale and today for our guest, we have one of the greatest bass trombonists out there, Mr. George Curran! Mr. Curran became the bass trombonist of the New York Philharmonic in 2013 and prior to that he was a member of Atlanta Symphony, and a fellow with the New World Symphony. Due to his terrific personality and incredible skills on the trombone, he has performed with numerous orchestras such as the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Detroit, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and many more. In addition to his impressive orchestral career, Mr. Curran is a renowned soloist performing solos in two International Trombone Festivals, being featured for the United States Air Force Band, and even the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival in South Korea. With such a great resume and history in the trombone world, we get right down to how he got into music by diving into the story of how he quit engineering to pursue music, how he transitioned from euphonium to bass trombone, how his orchestral career has progressed through the years and of course, we hit him with some rapid fire questions resulting in one of the most controversial responses yet!
Fun Fact: When I (Darien) was first trying to start this Podcast with Lawson, I was studying with Mr. Curran at the time and asked him if this podcast was a good idea and how we should go about it. He supported the idea fully and told me how to reach out to all these wonderful musicians for these interviews! Without Mr. Curran's support and advice, this Podcast wouldn't have been possible!
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Transition Music #1: Barnacle Bill, Steven Frank, United States Air Force Band featuring George Curran
Transition Music #2: Rolling Thunder March, Henry Fillmore, Schwob Wind Ensemble featuring George Curran
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
For our third episode this season, we have a near record breaker with this interview being our second longest interview yet! But it is absolutely nothing short of great stories, great laughs, and incredible inspiration from one of the biggest trombonists in the music industry, Alex Iles. Mr. Iles has enjoyed a varied and successful career in numerous musical settings performing in the musically diverse area of the Southern California freelance performing and recording community. As a very in-demand performer, recording artist and educator he has performed/recorded with Zubin Mehta, Hans Zimmer, Michael Giacchino, The Tonight Show, Danny Elfman, John Williams, Paul McCartney, Fallout Boy, Prince, and many jazz artists/bands such as Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, Bob Florence’s Limited Edition and even the Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band. With such an incredible musical career in the jazz world, orchestral world, and recording world, Mr. Iles talks about his present projects, his upbringing in music and the interesting approach of how he learned to improve as a musician, and we of course hit him with some rapid fire questions to find out who the real Alex Iles is! By the way, look up his page, I guarantee if you have watched any movies in the past 20 years, he’s recorded for it!
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Transition Music #1: Remembering, Dave Slonaker, Alex Iles
Transition Music #2: Count Bubba, Gordon Goodwind’s Big Phat Band
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
For our second episode of season 4, we are bringing you a great interview with Tony Baker, Professor of Trombone at University of North Texas! Tony Baker is probably the most diverse and versatile trombonist out there being a great jazz musician, phenomenal orchestral musician, a beautiful soloist, and a well known teacher throughout the world of trombone. As a soloist, Mr. Baker has established an international reputation by performing in Birmingham, UK at ITF 2007, was a soloist at the 2000 Festival International D’Art Lyrique, and in the states he’s performed as a soloist with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, Ohio Valley Symphony, and many more. Currently as an orchestral player he is a member of the Dallas Opera Orchestra. In the world of jazz he’s performed with the Woody Herman Band and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. In this interview we truly learn the great story of Tony Baker as we go through his early life, collegiate life, his time learning to balance marriage with a career in music, and eventually how he landed his teaching positions.
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Transition Music: Georgia On My Mind, Hoagy Carmichael/Goff Richards, Tony Baker
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
It's time to kick off our fourth season for the 8th Position Podcast! This season we start off with a great new cohost as Lawson Gardner has left the podcast! Our new co-host is Michael Hurst and he will be joining Darien Baldwin for the fourth season!
Achilles Liarmakopoulos is very well known not only in the world of trombone, but in the world of brass as he has been the trombonist for the Canadian Brass since 2011. Achilles walks us through his incredible upbringing as a musician throughout his time in Greece, in California, Yale University, and Curtis. He continues to walk us through his life, sharing the story of how he got into the world famous brass quintet, the Canadian Brass. Once we've covered the past, we discuss his activities for the present and future. As a decorated soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician, Achilles is nothing short of great stories and lessons in this episode of 8th Position Podcast!
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Transition Music: Trombonsillo, Carolina Calvache, Achilles Liarmakopoulos
Instagram: @8thposition @dbaldwin903 @_mehurst_
For our final episode of season 3, we are bringing you an interview with Dr. Martin McCain, Artist/Teacher of Trombone at Texas State University. Dr. McCain is an incredibly accomplished soloist performing recitals frequently with his wife as the McCain Duo. He lives as a versatile performer being a recording artist, chamber, orchestral, jazz/commercial musician and educator. He is a four-time winner of the Global Music Awards and is the master of all grills/smokers when it comes to barbecue, especially in the trombone world! We discuss his early life and collegiate life heavily to find out what inspired and educated Dr. McCain to get him to where he is today.
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Intro Music: Pure Imagination, Arr. Marcus Wilcher, McCain Duo
Outro Music: Prelude in Eb Minor, Shostakovich Arr. Robert H. Reynolds, Schwob Wind Ensemble
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner.music
This week we’re bringing you an interview with Dr. Justin Cook, Assistant Professor of Trombone at the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Cook is an accomplished soloist and freelance artist, playing recitals and subbing in orchestras all over the country. Also a brilliant pedagogue, Dr. Cook has taught many masterclasses at universities and festivals in the US and abroad, and has tripled the size of the UCA trombone studio since his arrival. We talked at length in this interview about his experience hosting the 2022 International Trombone Festival, as well as how to help cultivate a positive studio culture and set students up for success.
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Transition Music: Florida Concerto: I. Vivace, Frigyes Hidas, Justin Cook
Intro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Vanderbilt Trombone Quartet
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner.music
This week we interviewed Alexis Smith, product specialist for SE Shires and principal trombonist of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. One of the most recognizable faces in the trombone community, Alexis has fitted countless musicians for their custom Shires instruments. We had the pleasure of asking her about his history and work at the SE Shires company, as well as hearing some various other highlights from her collegiate and professional careers.
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Transition music: Quintet, Michael Kamen, Seraph Brass
Intro/Outro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Vanderbilt Trombone Quartet
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner.music
For episode 2 of our third season, we’re bringing you a fantastic interview with Sean Reusch, trombonist and educator in the greater San Diego area. Mr. Reusch is a current member of the Nittany Trombone Quartet, has an extensive private teaching studio in Southern California, and is the founder and curator of Trombone101.com. He’s also written several books on low brass pedagogy, including Trombone and Euphonium Essentials. In this interview, we discussed the way his bachelor’s degree in psychology influences his teaching philosophy, what to consider when approaching younger students, and the resources offered on Trombone 101.
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Transition music: Lullabye, Billy Joel, Sean Reusch and Scott Sutherland
Intro/Outro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Vanderbilt Trombone Quartet
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner.music
Kicking off the third season of 8th Position with an interview with John Fedchock, Grammy-nominated composer and arranger and former lead trombonist and chief arranger of the Woody Herman Orchestra. This world-class jazz trombone soloist took us through his illustrious four-decade career and outlined some of his most notable experiences, including his time touring and recording with Woody Herman, the genesis of his New York Big Band project, and his personal friendship with the great Carl Fontana.
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Transition music: My Shining Hour, Harold Arlen, John Fedchock & Carl Fontana
Intro/Outro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Vanderbilt Trombone Quartet
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner.music
This week on the podcast we welcome Mrs. Jennifer Wharton, NYC commercial bass trombonist and bandleader of Bonegasm. Jen has been a prominent name on the Broadway scene for several decades and has strong roots in the classical tradition despite her current jazz-centric endeavors. As an incredibly well-rounded musician and outgoing person, Jen is hard not to love as a person and a player all around.
We had a fun time talking with her about her move to New York and her freelancing beginnings, the formation of her group Bonegasm, her experiences playing on Broadway.
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Transition music: Tricotism, Oscar Pettiford, Jennifer Wharton & Bonegasm
Intro/Outro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Lawson Gardner
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner2
This week on the podcast we interview Mr. Austin Pancner, CEO and founder of The Functional Musician and bass trombonist for The Orchestra Now. Austin is one of the most prominent and pioneering musician injury coaches on the scene right now, and is consistently breaking new ground with his injury prevention and recovery methods. While he is a trombonist, his philosophies and insights are applicable to all instruments, and even other disciplines. With a strong focus on a holistic approach to personal health and wellness as it relates to your instrument, he walks us through his “Four Pillars to Performing Without Pain” and offers advice and resources to those in different stages of an injury cycle.
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Transition music: Pines of Rome, Ottorino Respighi, Alan Gilbert & New York Philharmonic
Intro/Outro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Lawson Gardner
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner2
This week on the podcast we interview Dr. Bradley Palmer, professor of trombone at Columbus State University and principal trombone of the LaGrange Symphony. Dr. Palmer's impact on the world of trombone pedagogy and low brass music cannot be understated. As the commissioner of many new works for trombone ensemble, a prominent recording engineer for solo and choir albums, and one of the most brilliant pedagogues of any brass instrument, he has had a large part in redefining many parts of the trombone world in the past 25 years. His vibrant career and personable disposition set him apart as not only a great trombonist, but a great musician and human being.
We had the opportunity to speak with him about his pedagogical philosophies, his many career highlights, and some strong advice he would have for young students trying to break through.
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Transition music: The Planet Krypton Fanfare/Superman March, John Williams arr. Nova, Bradley Palmer & STS Professors Choir 2015
Intro/Outro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Lawson Gardner
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner2
This week on the podcast we’re joined by Matthew Neff, bass trombone of the North Carolina Symphony. As a musician with a long and diverse career in the US Navy bands, Matt is an incredibly skilled musician in a plethora of different styles. From the Commodores to subbing in symphony orchestras, and everything in between, he has a lofty amount of insight to share without losing touch with his sense of humor.
We got an opportunity to talk about his early life with music, his experiences playing with various military bands throughout the years, and the various auditions he’s taken.
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Transition music: Make our Garden Grow, Leonard Bernstein arr. Slutter, Matt Neff & Mark Lusk with the Penn State Trombone Choir
Intro/Outro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Lawson Gardner
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner2
Returning with the second half of season 2 with an interview with Prof. Nick Finzer, professor of jazz trombone at the University of North Texas, prolific composer and recording artist, and prominent online educator. As a top call freelance jazz musician in New York City, Nick established himself in the 2010s as one of the fiery new voices on the jazz trombone scene, making powerful connections with musicians like Wycliffe Gordon and Steve Turre to facilitate his success. Nick always seems to be balancing ten things at once in his career, but his decisive execution makes it look easy as he navigates through new terrain as an educational and artistic innovator.
In this interview, we spoke to him about his early experiences with music, what it was like to take the plunge into the NYC music scene, and some of his strangest experiences with freelance playing. We also discussed his extensive discography, including but not limited to his upcoming album "Out of Focus," as well as the inner workings of his record label Outside In Music.
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Transition music: Lit by Lightning, Nick Finzer 2013
Intro/Outro music: I Will Go Sailing No More, Randy Newman, Lawson Gardner
Instagram: @8thposition @dabaldwin903 @lawson.gardner2