Performance Studios | Brass
Brass
Applied music courses provide students with individualized instruction and the opportunity to develop their technical skills, musical expression, and performance abilities on their chosen instrument. The brass instrument family — which includes the trumpet, trombone, French horn and tuba — plays a vital role in both classical and contemporary music. These powerful and versatile instruments are found in orchestras, bands, jazz ensembles and a wide range of other musical settings. Through our applied music curriculum, students will have the chance to explore the rich history, diverse repertoire and unique characteristics of brass instruments under the guidance of our experienced and dedicated faculty.
Horn
John David Smith is professor of horn at UD and brings to his teaching many years of experience as soloist, orchestral and chamber musician with a number of America’s elite ensembles, including the Metropolitan Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra and Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Mastery of musicianship, horn literature and audition preparation as well as on/off campus performance opportunities are integral components to the horn student experience. Private lessons are also available to music minors and other non-majors.
Interested high school students are encouraged to plan a campus visit and have a complimentary horn lesson with Dr. Smith to learn more about continuing their music studies at the college level.
Low Brass
The UD Trombone Studio includes students from more than six states studying music education and trombone performance at the undergraduate and master's levels as well as honors students and non-majors. Students receive weekly one-hour lessons and participate in a studio class.
Bruce Tychinski, associate professor of trombone, leads the studio. He is a member of the Washington Trombone Ensemble and Nittany Trombone Quartet, and a principal trombonist of the Pennsylvania Philharmonic.
The trombone studio is very active and has garnered a national reputation. The UD Trombone Choir performed at the 2014 International Trombone Festival at the Eastman School of Music and students have been selected for many prestigious summer festivals and honors ensembles. UD also hosts an annual Trombone Day, which brings world-class artists to campus to perform and present master classes. Recent studio alums have gone on to successful performing endeavors in the US and abroad, teaching positions, or received graduate assistantships to further their studies.
Trumpet
Students in the UD Trumpet Student are taught by Mark Clodfelter, professor of trumpet, and Brianne Borden, assistant professor of trumpet.
Professor Clodfelter is a versatile performer of international acclaim and a multiple Grammy-recommended recording artist. He was recently described by Classical Voice North Carolina as "…a stellar world-class trumpeter whose dazzling playing wowed the audience," as "warm toned" by the Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) and "an exceptionally strong performer" by the International Trumpet Guild Journal.
