Interview With A Bass Trombonist: Stephen Dunkel

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington is the home of two orchestras; The National Symphony Orchestra and the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. My bass trombone “office-mate” down the hall is Stephen Dunkel, who won the audition for the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra in 2001. I have had the privilege of sharing the stage with Steve on a number of occasions, and we have been known to knock back a beer or two, as bass trombonists will. He is simply an outstanding musician and bass trombone player. He is also hip, intelligent and a lot of fun to hang with. Please enjoy this interview which was conducted this past spring (2006).

Matthew Guilford: What were the factors involved in choosing a college?

Stephen Dunkel: For undergrad, Dennis Bubert said to go to Northwestern University to study with Crisafulli. I got in and got a Bachelor’s degree, but I didn’t improve during my time there. I feel like I had some major embouchure problems, and I had trouble addressing them there. As I see it, you don’t fix a broken engine by pumping more gas into it. I went to the Aspen Music Festival after my last year and studied with Per Brevig, which was a big help for me. The best thing he said to me: “Steve, this does not sound good.” I wanted to study with him, so I went to Mannes College of Music after a year off from playing. I spent two great years with Per, then changed over to David Finlayson for two more. I really respond to negative input, so I thrived under Brevig and Finlayson.

M.G.: What/who were your biggest musical influences early on? What about now?

S.D.: My father was a disc jockey until I was about 8 years old, and he had built up a massive record collection. He has I’m guessing 15,000 rock and roll records, mainly from the 50′s to the mid 70′s, so when I was a kid, there was always rock on the turntable. I first got into classical by listening to a few Bach organ cd’s that we had, then going to see the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. After I got serious about the trombone, Dennis Bubert gave me a list of orchestral pieces with great trombone parts, and I got hooked even more.I listen to a wide range of music now. If I’m driving slow, west coast rap. If I’m on the freeway, metal.

M.G.: Did you consider any career(s) other than music?

S.D.: Not really. After I was finished with school, I began studying Cisco Networking in case I needed to earn money for the family.

M.G.: What do you like to do completely outside of music?

S.D.: I’m a father as of 14 weeks ago, so my main interest is my son, Nolan. I’m also a hardcore video gamer. I’m mostly into PC games, and World of Warcraft at the moment. I play PlayStation and Xbox with friends, and we compete fiercely. Broken controllers are not unheard of.

M.G.: What is your pet-peeve with your students?

S.D.: In the little teaching experience I’ve had, the worst thing a student can do is to be simply uninterested. I think, “Why are you even here?”

M.G.: What is the best piece of advice you can give to an aspiring young bass trombonist?

S.D.: Record everything you play, particularly in the practice room. Just record the whole thing and listen to it later. You will be shocked. Really.

M.G.: You have played with some major dudes in your career. What are some of the highlights?

S.D.: Best orchestral playing was right next to you when Maazel came in to do The Ring Without Words with the NSO. That was a combination of great music, great conductor, and great playing – very fun. An honorable mention goes to Schubert 9 with Prometheus Orchestra in New York City.Best chamber music was with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road. In this piece we had three trombone sitting maybe five feet behind Yo-Yo, and there was a big fortissimo passage. He just couldn’t get enough sound. He would turn around and taunt us to play louder. He’s insane!I’ve also played in a rock band, Zweig, in CBGB’s and Brownie’s clubs in New York City. There’s nothing like a packed crowd having fun that goes absolutely crazy when the brass smashes a fat chord out. Plus, free beer!!!

M.G.: What is the strangest thing to have happened during your musical career?

S.D.: Well, I have a pretty poor memory for some reason. I find a way to forget my instrument at least once a year. The first time it happened, I was on the phone with Milt Stevens, who had to convince a Kennedy Center security guard to open up an NSO travel case so I could borrow his backup tenor trombone. This was about two minutes to downbeat, and I was sweating bullets.

M.G.: What characteristics do you admire in others that you do not see in yourself? (or would like to see more of in yourself)

S.D.: I look to my close friend Sycil Mathai, who used to play second trumpet with the KCOHO. This guy has a really open, balanced mind and reserves passing judgement. If I catch myself getting angry with colleagues, family, or anyone, sometimes I ask myself, would Sycil react like this?

M.G.: What is the last book (or books) you have read?

S.D.: George Orwell’s Homage to Catalonia

M.G.: What’s in your I-Pod?

S.D.: I only have a Shuffle, so the list is small: Rage Against the Machine (first untitled album), Sepultura (Chaos A.D .), System of a Down (Steal This Album and Toxicity).

M.G.: Steve, thanks so much for taking the time to share these thoughts and ideas with us on this blog. By the way, my locker combination is 8-32-12 if you ever get in a jam for a horn again……..