What was new at yeodoug.com in 2004?

Shown to the left is my class from the 10th Hamamatsu (Japan) International Wind Instrument Academy and Festival. I had participated in the first three of these annual events in Hamamatsu, which is jointly sponsored by the City of Hamamatsu, the Okura ACT City Hotel and YAMAHA. As in past years, I had a class of seven students (six bass trombone, 1 tenor trombone) with whom I worked all week. This year's class was the best I'd ever had; the players ranged from students to professional players and the week was a most enjoyable one. Nozomi Kasano, a fourth year student in college in Nagoya, was selected by audition to represent the class at the student gala concert; she performed Bozza's "New Orleans." Our accompanist, Maki Asoh, was splendid and I could not have asked to be a part of a better organized and more enjoyable Academy.

Other faculty included Akira Kuwata (Principal trombone of the Yomouri Symphony Orchestra), Mark Gould and Robert Sullivan, trumpets, Tsutomu Maruyama, horn and Gene Pokorny, tuba (of the Chicago Symphony) - with these players we performed the Ingolf Dahl "Music for Brass Instruments" on the opening faculty concert.

Later in the week I gave a masterclass at the Dolce Music Shop in Osaka and also gave an interview to the Japanese wind instrument magazine, PIPERS where I discussed the role historical brasses have played in my musical life.

The Academy was a great event, but equally enjoyable was time I spent working with YAMAHA on several projects. YAMAHA trombone designer Yoshihiro Takahashi (shown at left) and I have been discussing improvements to the YBL-622 bass trombone I currently play. Mr. Takahashi had implemented several key changes in the horn which I tested and we worked on together while I was at the YAMAHA factory in Hamamatsu. The result will be the release of a new model that will be a significant upgrade from the 622, containing all of the excellent features of that instrument but with added enhancements about which I am very excited. This new model will be called the YBL-822G; no release date has been set at this time. I remain very impressed with YAMAHA's commitment to improve their instruments and have been very pleased to work with them on this new design.

While at the factory I also made a video on how trombones are made. YAMAHA has previously made videos on the making of trumpets and saxophones so I was pleased when they asked me to help with this project. It was fascinating to go through the factory and observe all of the processes of how trombones are put together and the video will be released later this year as part of a DVD including all three videos on the making of instruments.

My life with the serpent continues to be one of the most exciting parts of my ongoing musical explorations. I have recently been contracted to play the serpent with Boston's Handel and Haydn Society during their performances of the Divertimento in B flat ("St. Antoni Chorale") which is attributed to Haydn - these performances will take place in April 2005 and H&H will use my forthcoming edition of the Divertimento which is being published by Sarastro Music. This is the same Divertimento I recorded on my new CD, "Le Monde du Serpent." I will also be playing ophicleide in February 2004 when Boston's Chorus Pro Musica performs Hector Berlioz's "Romeo and Juliet" on period instruments. The adventure continues.

The North American Brass Band Association sponsors an annual championship contest for brass bands. Contesting has been part of the brass band movement for nearly 150 years and the NEBB has had the opportunity to go to three of the NABBA contests - 2001 in Washington, D.C.; 2003 in Little Rock, Arkansas; and 2004 in Charleston, West Virginia. Going to these contests has been a huge part of the growth of the NEBB. For us, the important thing about attending such an event is the interaction we all have with other bands and players as we learn more about our playing in the process. Also, we work hard to present our 30 minute contest program at the highest level we can, burnishing all of the details of our music to as fine a point as we can make. This crucible has proven to be a very enjoyable process for the band and today, the NEBB's hard work was rewarded with a banner and a trophy for FIRST PLACE in the "Challenge" section of the NABBA XXII Championship. What a thrill it was to have the band rewarded for their hard work in this way! I offer my congratulations once again to the fine members of the NEBB (including principal trombonist Brad Kerns who won 2nd place in the adult low brass technical solo competition, E flat bass player Mark Fabulich who won 2nd place in the adult low brass slow melody solo competition, and the NEBB percussion section - Dora Kastanas, Rick Castillo and Stephen Lee for placing 3rd in the adult percussion ensemble competition) for their success at NABBA as we look forward to our continued collaboration together. I am very proud of all of you!