I know that many of you are contemplating which colleges, conservatories and universities you will apply for in the next few months and I am writing to put in a plug for The University of Maryland at College Park.
The deadline is just around the corner for undergraduate applications to the University of Maryland School of Music: November 1, 2009 is the deadline for mailing in an undergraduate application and December 1, 2009 is the deadline for graduate applications.
Of immediate interest is a University of Maryland Trombone Studio Recital, featuring faculty, current students and alumni of The University of Maryland. The recital will take place on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 8:00 PM in Gildenhorn Recital Hall on the campus of The University of Maryland. Here is a link to the event:
http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu/2009/c/performances/performance?rowid=9961
I should note that there are several openings in the studio for Fall 2010 admittance. We have particular need for undergraduate trombonists, both tenor and bass. I encourage all who are interested in The University of Maryland School of Music at College Park to contact the admissions department
as soon as possible to stay within the posted deadlines. You can contact them here:
Office of Admissions
UM School of Music
2110 Clarice Smith Center
College Park, MD 20742
Email: musicadmissions@umd.edu
Phone: 301-405-8435
Fax: 301-314-7966
The University of Maryland School of Music trombone faculty consists of:
-Matthew Guilford: Bass trombonist with the National Symphony Orchestra and Associate Artist in Residence at the University of Maryland School of Music:
-Christopher Dudley: Principal trombonist with the Baltimore Symphony and University of Maryland faculty member
-Craig Mulcahy: National Symphony trombonist and University of Maryland faculty member.
Each trombone faculty member brings to the music program at UMD unique skills and experiences. Though trombone students attending UMD are assigned one instructor, the three of us work together in many ways to assure that the students are being exposed to as many musical experiences as possible. For example:
Each week Professor Guilford holds Performance/Studio Class. This is an opportunity for all the students, not just those of Professor Guilford, to participate in a forum, which can range from master class, to mock auditions, to discussion of any music related subject.
Professor Dudley leads the UMD Trombone Ensemble. All the trombone students in the School of Music get together to read and rehearse ensemble music and generally have fun being trombone players. In addition to reading quartets, quintets, sextets, octets and many transcriptions, the Trombone Ensemble also rehearses and discusses the trombone parts of many major orchestral works.
The University of Maryland brass department faculty is second to none. Stephen Dumaine, Principal tuba with the National Symphony Orchestra and Dr. Steven Kellner, former Principal euphonium with The United States Marine Band round out the low brass faculty. Trumpet faculty members are Chris Gekker, formerly of the American Brass Quintet, and Steve Hendrickson, Principal Trumpet of the National Symphony Orchestra. Greg Miller, who also performs with the famous Empire Brass, is the full time teacher of Horn.
The Wind & Percussion department schedules student recitals on a weekly basis. Five to ten students of all levels perform one short work for the entire departmental student body and faculty. This helps refine the special skill of recital preparation and gives the students a number of opportunities over their college careers to feel the excitement of solo performance.
Other performing ensembles on campus (admittance by “seating auditions” in the fall) include the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra, University of Maryland Wind Orchestra, University of Maryland Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band(s), and Brass Chamber Music quintets coached by the faculty. Additionally, there is an Repertoire orchestra, Marching Band, and various pep bands open to all University of Maryland students.
The University of Maryland at College Park is located about 15 miles northeast of Washington D.C. Easily accessible by public transportation, many students regularly venture into Washington D.C. The Foggy Bottom metro stop, which will get you to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, home of the National Symphony Orchestra. Students also travel to Baltimore in order to hear the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra perform at Meyerhoff Hall. The Washington based U. S. Military Bands are located around the Washington DC/Annapolis area. There is no better way to hear great band concert repertoire and jazz—all for free. Additionally, some of our students audition for these groups, pass the rigorous audition, and are now earning a living as professionals
If you have any remaining questions or concerns about attending the University of Maryland at College park, I encourage you to write to me by email or leave a message on my blog.