Brass
We like tooting our horn about the dynamic brass division—and our trombone, tuba, and trumpet. In fact, if you wander by early in the morning, you can hear a few dozen mouthpieces buzzing together about Professors Ronald Romm and Michael Ewald. Nearly three decades a trumpeter with the Canadian Brass, Romm brought the open studio concept to UIUC, where he and Ewald use innovative team-teaching with their trumpet class. Elliot Chasanov leads an exciting trombone ensemble. Hornist Kazimierz (“Kaz”) Machala, composer and arranger, inspires an active horn studio, and Mark Moore, a soloist and Sonus Brass member, holds down the tuba and euphonium components of this “brash” mix of world-class artist teachers. But there’s more, since guest clinicians such as Ronald Barron (Boston Symphony), Bill Vacchiano, and Phil Myers (New York Philharmonic) spice up brass “hangs” on the weekends. Our graduates can fill you in on the program; they’re found in leading orchestras, chamber ensembles, and jazz, commercial, and military bands—plus universities and public schools—around the globe.