Ron Romm

Events & Info Archive
#2

Ron at the TTC - Tennessee Trumpet Competition -- January, 2001

I have been receiving numerous inquiries as to my recent activities. Please have a look at the article (below) that Charlie Decker, Professor of Trumpet at Tennessee Technological University wrote and submitted to the International Trumpet Guild about the Tennessee Trumpet Competition that took place on the weekend of January 13, 2001. Charlie has a great trumpet studio, and the attitude, enthusiasm, and diligence of Charlie and his entire trumpet class is to be loudly applauded.

The TTC is a wonderful event; a great launching pad for young trumpet enthusiasts to get a feeling of the thrill of live performance for themselves, as well as having an opportunity to visit with other performers, both professional and amateur, for a weekend. The winners are immediately qualified to compete in the National Trumpet Competition in Washington, hosted at George Mason University by Dennis Edelbrock. At this event, I was a featured lecturer at TTU, a clinician, and soloist with the TTU Conductorâs Symposium Band under conductor Joseph Hermann. The atmosphere of this competition was a very positive one, and one where we all learned quite a bit. I want to congratulate not just the award winners, but all of the participants in the competition. In my opinion, if you come to the event and use your highest level of focus and energy when you play your instrument, you are already a winner and have already won the prize.

I look forward to seeing all of you, and hearing from and about you in the future. Remember, keep breathing deeply, and strive for tone!

Ron

The 2001 Tennessee Trumpet Competition and Trumpet Seminar
by
Charles Decker
Trumpet Professor, Tennessee Technological University

The fourth annual Tennessee Trumpet Competition and Trumpet Seminar was held at Tennessee Technological University on January 13, 2001, and attended by more than 75 high school, university, and professional musicians. Both events were coordinated by TTU Trumpet Professor Charles Decker. The afternoon Trumpet Seminar was co-sponsored by Tennessee Technological University, the International Trumpet Guild, Yamaha Music Corporation, Howard Turner, and Kim and Charles Decker.

Yamaha artist Ronald Romm was guest clinician and soloist. Romm retired in June of 2000 from the Canadian Brass after 29 years of touring and recording. With the Canadian Brass, Romm appeared in practically all of the major concert venues world-wide, performed over 4000 concerts, recorded 50 albums, and produced numerous television concert specials and videos. A dedicated educator, he has given hundreds of clinics, edited solo and ensemble publications, and produced instructional videos and recordings. He has just released a new solo CD with pianist Avis Romm, ãWellness for Soul: Volume 1, Seeing the Light, ä along with sheet music from the album. His web site at www.MusicRomm.com has complete information.

Rommâs well-received clinic focused on improving performance techniques particularly emphasizing greater awareness of body alignment and posture combined with efficient and comfortable breathing. He also introduced students to the 1960âs version of the James Stamp warm-up approach. His master class combined a perceptive understanding of the art of performance and the challenge of communicating aesthetic ideals to the audience. He had a particularly effective discussion on stage presence and visually enhancing performance through a ãblockingä approach for small ensemble performance. On Friday, he presented an illuminating lecture providing an in-depth perspective of his wide variety of musical experiences over four decades.

The day-long trumpet activities concluded with an evening band concert which began with a performance by Tennessee Technological University Trumpet Ensemble. Ronald Romm was then featured soloist in the premiere performance of Lee Norrisâ arrangement ãWhen Itâs Sleepy time Down South and Swing that Music: A Tribute to Louis Armstrongä with the Tennessee Conductorâs Symposium Band under the direction of Joseph Hermann, TTU Director of Bands and coordinator for the Symposium.

Six trumpet professionals served as adjudicators including Cliff Blackburn and Tina Erickson of Blackburn Trumpets, David Hobbs of the Jack Daniels Silver Cornet Band, Alan Suska from Nashville music freelance ranks, Wayne Robbins, DMA candidate from the University of Texas, and Jeremy Martin, staff arranger for the U.S. Force Golden Band of the West.

2001 Tennessee Trumpet Competition Winners

High School Solo Division: First Place. Jonathan Stites (student of Mark Clodfelter); Second Place. Jason Sexton (student of Erich Zimmerman)
Undergraduate College Solo Division: First-place. Bryan Crisp; Second-place. Matthew Kirkpatrick (students of Charles Decker)
Undergraduate College Trumpet Duet winners were Doug Clark and Bryan Crisp (students of Charles Decker)
High School Trumpet Duet winners were Scott Humphries and Jason Sexton

The first-place solo winners were advanced as semi-finalists to the National Trumpet Competition held in March at George Mason University. For information on future trumpet events at Tennessee Technological University, visit the TTU trumpet studio web site at http://plato.ess.tntech.edu/music/trumpet/trumpet.html.

Send email to Ron@MusicRomm.com.