Meet the WMU Trombone Studio 2011-2012
WELCOME NEW STUDENTS!
UNDERGRADUATES
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Eric Bowman is a senior trombone performance major from Portage,
Michigan, and he is a graduate of Portage Northern High School. As a high school senior Eric was selected
as the Outstanding Soloist at the 2007 Western Jazz Festival. Since that time he has had a number of impressive achievements to his credit. Eric has been named one of three finalists in the International Trombone Association's (ITA) 2012 Frank Smith Solo Competition. He will fly to Paris, France to compete in July. In 2011 he was named the 1st alternate selection in the ITA's Lewis Van Haney Tenor Trombone Philharmonic Prize. In 2008 he was
one of three finalists in the ITA's Gilberto Gagliardi/Weirl
Trombone Solo Competition, held in Salt Lake City. And he was selected as one of three finalists in both a classical AND jazz competition sponsored by the ITA and held in Aarhus, Denmark in June 2009. They include the Robert Marsteller Solo Competition and the Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition. Afterwards he was named the winner of the Carl Fontana Jazz Trombone Competition. He was recently named one of three finalists in the 2010 National Solo Jazz Competition, held in Washington, D.C. at the Eastern Trombone Workshop. Two years in a row he was selected as the winner in the competitive 2010 and 2011 Downbeat Magazine Instrumental College Outstanding Jazz Soloist Performance category, and he received the honorable mention selection in the competitive Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition.
In his free time he enjoys both tennis and table tennis, basketball, poker, old-school videogames and, of course, music.
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Bass trombonist Aaron Buczek is a sophomore transfer student in the trombone studio. Originally from Warren, Michigan, Aaron graduated from Warren Mott High School where he was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Band Award. While in high school he participated in three District 16 Honors Bands, as well as the Honors Jazz Orchestra. His junior year he was a participant in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival. Aaron has been highly involved with the Detroit Civic Youth Ensembles, serving as principal bass trombonist of the Detroit Civic Orchestra for two years and the Detroit Civic Wind Symphony for three years. An alumni of the program, he is currently employed as the bass trombone mentor for the Civic Youth Orchestra.
When not playing, Aaron loves to be outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and he enjoys great Polish cuisine.
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Visit Evan's My Space Page |
Freshman Evan Clifton, a graduate of Howell High School, plays bass trombone but doubles on tenor. As a freshman at WMU he has already enjoyed a great deal of success. Evan was recently named a finalist in the National Solo Competition (bass trombone, Division I), sponsored by the US Army Band. He will compete in the finals for the top prize in March, 2012 in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he will also be competing as one of three finalists in the International Trombone Association's George Roberts Bass Trombone Competition, held in Paris France in early July.
While in high school Evan was selected for several honors bands, including three years in both the Livingston County Honors Band and the the All-Star Band at WMU’s Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music. Additionally, his senior year he was chosen as 2nd chair in the MSBOA All-State Orchestra and principal trombone in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Orchestra. He was also nominated for the MSBOA Soloist Competition his senior year. In school, Evan was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Jazz Band and Trombone Quartet. He was also active in the vocal music program at Howell High School, having successfully auditioned for the A Cappella Choir and Highlander Chorale, the top two ensembles. Evan performed with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony (one year as 2nd, one as principal) and one year in both the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's Civic Orchestra and the Civic Wind Symphony. He attended Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp for six summers, including one summer touring Europe as 1st chair trombone in the Blue Lake International Northern Winds. In addition to Blue Lake, Evan attended WMU’s Seminar summer music program for three summers. For six years he was a student of Gary Hellick, Professor of Trombone at Wayne State University and Professor of Trombone and Euphonium at Concordia.
Outside of music, Evan was active in sports at Howell High School. He was a member of the basketball team and ran cross country and track and field. In his free time he enjoys running and playing basketball, hanging out with friends, and watching virtually any sport.
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Sophomore tenor trombonist Becky Haines graduated with academic honors from Mona Shores High School in Norton Shores, Michigan, finishing 13th out of a class of 320. As a high school sophomore, she was selected to play with the Michigan Youth Arts Festival All-State Jazz Band and also at the Detroit International Jazz Festival. The following year she was selected 2nd chair in the Michigan All-State Band. At Mona Shores High School Becky was principal trombonist in the top Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Orchestra, and Sailor Brass. She also sat principal trombone in the West Michigan Youth Symphony for three years. Becky consistently received Division I ratings at Solo & Ensemble. She also performed at local churches throughout her high school career, occasionally doubling on trumpet, and she participated in honor bands at Calvin College and Western Michigan University. Her senior year Becky was the recipient of the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and the John Philip Sousa Award.
In her spare time, Becky enjoys playing guitar, playing tennis and golf, spending time with friends, and enjoying a great cup of coffee.
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EVA HAMER
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Junior Eva Hamer is a native of the misty redwood rainforests of Humboldt County, California. In California she can be regularly observed playing jazz at a local coffee shop or with her ska band at the area's all ages music venue. She had the honor of playing with the California All-State Band and attending the State Summer School for the Arts, a month long music program before her senior year of high school which greatly shaped her musical development. As a junior in high school, she also achieved a perfect score on the AP Music Theory Test and continued to graduate in the top 5% of her class. At WMU Eva is double majoring in Jazz Studies and Music Therapy.
Eva enjoys jamming, composing, and listening to music she's never heard before and likewise hopes her career to be highly creative. Besides music, Eva enjoys exploring nature, art shows and poetry slams, and attending various other cultural events.
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A freshman majoring in music education, Eric Hester graduated 5th in his class at Reeths-Puffer High School with academic honors, including National Merit Finalist standing. Throughout high school, Eric consistently received first division ratings in solo and ensemble competitions at both the district and state levels and qualified for participation in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival his sophomore and junior years. His sophomore year, Eric was selected 1st chair in the Grand Valley State Honors Band and also played principal trombone in the West Michigan Youth Symphony his senior year. At Reeths-Puffer, Eric was involved in every music class possible, playing principal trombone in the Reeths-Puffer Wind Ensemble, marching band, pit orchestra, and jazz band (receiving an Outstanding Soloist Award at the 2011 Western Jazz Festival), as well as singing in the top choral ensemble at the school, the Reeths-Puffer Madrigals. His senior year, Eric participated in a teacher readiness training course that allowed him to work with 6th grade band students at Reeths-Puffer Intermediate. He was also recognized as the recipient of both the John Philip Sousa Award and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award his senior year at Reeths-Puffer.
Outside of music, Eric is involved with Destination Imagination, Howmet Theatre Productions, and National Honor Society. The remainder of his free time is spent on Facebook.
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Senior Adam Lenz is a Music Composition major from Parchment, Michigan. He has played trombone with the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra, the Parchment High School Band, and has participated in side by side concerts with the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Symphony Orchestras. As a composer, Adam is a regular participant in the New Sounds Festival at WMU. He plans to pursue graduate studies in ethnomusicology and historical musicology with a focus on Soviet period chamber music from the Caucasus and Central Asia. In June 2009, he traveled to Yerevan, Armenia to conduct research at the Aram Khachaturian House-Museum and the Komitas Conservatory of Music on University grant funding. The works collected were presented in his Honors College Thesis concert in Spring 2010 as well as with his new chamber ensemble Muzika Russe. In Fall 2011, Adam will begin work on an M.A. in Musicology researching modified string quartets from Armenia and Azerbaijan. This research will take Adam on three planned trips back to Armenia and Azerbaijan across the next year and a half. Adam is a Clarence L. Remynse Scholar, Theodore Presser Scholar, Robert F. Maher Scholar (Anthropology), Judy Maze Scholar, an Eagle Scout and a member of the Phi Kappa Lambda, Phi Kappa Phi, and Alpha Lambda Delta honors fraternities.
When he has spare time, Adam is an amateur botanist and assists with WMU's Orchid collection in addition to his personal orchid collection. He also enjoys traveling, photography, spending time with friends, and reading about Soviet music and politics.
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A sophomore majoring in trombone performance, Derek Lyp plays bass trombone and doubles on tenor. This native of Lambertville, Michigan graduated from St. John’s Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio. While at St. John’s Derek was honored with a number of impressive accomplishments, such as being selected principal 1st chair of the 2010 Ohio All-State Band, recipient of St. John’s National Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and selected bass trombonist of the 2010 OMEA District One Honors Jazz Band. During his senior year, Derek was also elected low brass section leader of St. John’s musical ensembles. Derek was active in a number of ensembles including: big band, symphonic, wind, a small jazz combo and marching band, all of which he served as principal trombonist since his freshman year. In addition, Derek served as co-principal trombonist of the Toledo Youth Orchestra during his senior year and as bass trombonist of the Toledo Youth Jazz Ensemble for two years. Derek studied for five years with Garth Simmons, principal trombonist of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. He also attended two summer trombone institutes at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Derek was recently named one of three finalists in the prestigious 2011 International Trombone Association George Roberts Bass Trombone Competition, a competition he won in Nashville, Tennessee several months later (see article).
When not playing trombone (which is very seldom) Derek can be found wilderness camping and canoeing, hanging out with friends, goofing around on Facebook, listening to any style of music but country and pulling outrageous pranks on close friends and family members. Derek recently received the rank of Eagle Scout, an honor achieved by only two percent of Boy Scouts.
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Alyssa Madeira is a senior at WMU, pursuing degrees in both music and German. Before graduating from Romeoville High School in Romeoville, IL, she was actively involved in music and performed in honor bands of all types; from various concert ensembles to the 2008 Inagural U.S. Army All-American Bowl Marching Band in San Antonio, Texas. Alyssa performs in several ensembles in and around Kalamazoo and WMU, and takes a special interest in early music.
In addition to her talents on trombone, Alyssa has played piano for 12 years, earning Division I ratings at solo and ensemble competitions, arranged and performed pieces for various concerts, and has served as an accompanist for various instrumentalists and musicals. On euphonium, she has toured the nation, and world, with the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. She is also highly devoted to music and service to the band programs and is a member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity. Recently, Alyssa was offered membershp with the Phi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. In June of 2010, she studied German in Vienna, Austria with funding from a scholarship received from the Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education. Alyssa was recently hired by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to work in their Marketing Department while continuing her studies at Western. Alyssa hopes to pursue graduate work in musicology after she graduates in April of 2011.
In her free time she enjoys listening to a wide variety of music, watching movies, and traveling.
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Freshman Luke Marlowe graduated from Byron Center High School, located near Grand Rapids. Throughout high school he performed in many different ensembles, including the marching band, wind ensemble, jazz orchestra, and jazz combo. On two occasions Luke has been recognized as 1st chair in the district honors band, and his senior year he was selected as a member of the Michigan All-State Band, the All-State Jazz Ensemble, and the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Jazz Band. Luke has achieved a number of honors and soloist awards. He received the "Essentially Ellington Certificante of Merit" (2010-2011) and the "Outstanding Soloist Award" at both the Western Michigan University Jazz Festival and the All-State Jazz Festival respectively. He has had the privilege of performing with some of the world’s greatest musicians and educators. He has also had the opportunity to work along side his directors while teaching the middle and intermediate school bands during his free hours of the school day.
Luke enjoys reading his Bible, listening to music, playing video games, and hanging out with his friends.
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Freshman Laura Roth graduated summa cum laude from Brighton High School, with a 3.9 gpa, ranking 16th out of 589. Playing on the tenor trombone, but doubling on bass, Laura played principal trombone and was a featured soloist in both Brighton High School’s jazz band her sophomore year and in their 200+ member marching band her senior year. She was also principal trombone her junior and senior years in the Blue Lake Symphony Orchestra summer program. Her final two years Laura was a member of the Livingston County Honors Band. She earned superior solo ratings at both district and state Solo and Ensemble in her sophomore, junior and senior years, and she plays semi-regularly in her church on both trombone and hand bells. Laura is also a featured neighborhood soloist when she practices with her window open.
In addition to playing trombone, Laura enjoys the theatre. She has done some Shakespearian acting and has made it to the state level in forensics (competitive acting). She is also an active girl scout, National Honor Society member, creative being, thinker, swing dancer and friend. Laura enjoys listening to music, watching movies, being with her friends, writing, reading, and nature. So, in conclusion, Laura believes that sleep is overrated.
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KIRSTEN SCHAFFERT Hear Kirsten (Trombone): Jorgensen's Romance; |
A native Californian most recently from Sanford, Michigan, Kirsten Schaffert is a senior with a passion for both instrumental and vocal music education, as well as performance. While studying at Midland High School, Kirsten performed with the Central Michigan University (CMU) honors band at age 15, and for three years she studied trombone under Dr. Robert Lindahl, trombone professor at CMU. Kirsten was a two-time Michigan State University Honors Band member, a three-time Michigan Youth Arts Festival All-State Orchestra and Band participant (including principal trombonist for 2008), and she toured Europe two summers with the Blue Lake Orchestra, the second year as principal trombonist. She played in her school’s symphonic band, symphony orchestra, and jazz band, as well as the Midland Concert Band, Chemical City Band and the local trombone choir, "Just Trombones." Kirsten loves marching band and was drum major her junior and senior years of high school, and continued in college performing with the Bronco Marching Band for three years, serving as drill instructor her sophomore year and section leader her junior year. In her freshman year of college, Kirsten was an honorable mention selection in the 2009 International Trombone Association's Gilberto Gagliardi Trombone Solo Competition. And just recently she was named a finalist in the ITA's prestigious Larry Wiehe Solo Competition. She'll be competing for the top prize this coming July in Paris, France. For 2011-2012 Kirsten has been selected to perform with WMU’s Russell Brown Honors Brass Quintet, an esteemed undergraduate chamber ensemble.
Kirsten is also an accomplished vocalist. In high school she studied under Grace Marra of Midland, Michigan. Kirsten’s soprano voice was frequently heard in the Midland High School Meistersingers, Women’s Ensemble, and at church. Currently studying voice under Dr. Kenneth Prewitt at Western, Kirsten was a two-time semifinalist for WMU’s concerto competition, a Fall of 2010 National Association of Teachers of Singing (Michigan) winner in her division, and was invited to compete in the 2010 Classical Singer competition in New York City. Kirsten worked as a cabin counselor for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp last summer, and was one of four finalists in the 2010 Blue Lake staff solo competition.
Kirsten is the youngest of three and enjoys everything nature, photography, scrapbooking, making silly videos, coffee, positive people, laughter, and good cookin’!
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Karl Schmidt is a junior in the trombone studio majoring in trombone performance. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he now resides in Commerce Township, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. As a student at Walled Lake Central High School he received highest academic honors and was a member of the National Honor Society. He was also very active in his school’s performing arts program. Karl was first chair tenor trombone in his high school’s wind ensemble since his freshmen year, and he performed in his school's marching band and jazz band for all four years. He also consistently received Division 1 ratings at solo and ensemble and performed in the Michigan Music Conference.
Karl notes that he likes most everything, including indoor and outdoor activities ranging from biking, soccer, and canoeing to board games and videogames. He was a member of his High School's French and German clubs and, while not pursuing a major or minor, he still studies the German language. He indicates that he’s an easy guy to get along with.
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Michael Unsworth was a 2008 graduate of Portage Central High School (PCHS) where he received academic honors as well as various honors in the music department. He was highly active in almost every musical ensemble, including jazz, musicals, bands, and brass quintet. Michael is also heavily involved in the drum corps community, having marched with Legends Drum and Bugle Corps from Portage MI since 2006. In 2008 he received the Member of the Year award, and in 2009 received the brass section award for leadership. Since 2009 he has served as Legends Drum and Bugle Corps Horn Sergeant and continues to commit to that role for this upcoming 2011 tour. Apart from his role in the Drum Corps, Michael teaches the Legends indoor brass line as the primary brass instructor during the winter and spring. And in the summer and fall he is also the music and visual caption head with the PCHS Marching Band. He is a transfer student from Michigan Tech where he studied chemical engineering and was involved with the Michigan Tech Symphony Orchestra and various other musical ensembles. Michael is now entering his second year in the music program at Western.
In his spare time he enjoys working out, playing in ensembles, and spending time with friends!
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Lauren Westerby is a senior at WMU. As a high school student of Kip Hickman of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, she was a member of the Flint Youth Symphony for three years, joining the orchestra on a 2008 trip to France. Lauren was an All-State Orchestra participant her junior year. She was also drum major of the Davison High School Marching Band, president of her high school's symphonic band, and pep band secretary for the past three years. Other honors include playing 1st chair in the 2008 District 3 Honors Band. She was also recently a drill instructor for the Bronco Marching Band. Lauren has a number of non-musical achievements to her credit. In 2007 she placed 1st in a speak-off competition which allowed her to serve as a United Nations Youth Delegate with other international delegates. She is also an active volunteer.
In her spare time Lauren enjoys dance, singing, listening to classic rock music, and just being completely random. She also enjoys reading traveling, and spending time with friends.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
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Graduate student Erik Dancy is originally from Kansas City, MO where he attended Raytown High School, receiving All-State Band honors and the John Philip Sousa Band Award. At WMU he was recognized in the 2012 International Trombone Association's Larry Wiehe Solo Competition as the 2nd Alternate winner (5th place). He has also been a member of the University Symphony Orchestra and the University Symphonic Band.
Erik received his undergraduate degree of the University of Missouri in Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education, Summa Cum Laude. While at Mizzou, Erik played in many instrumental ensembles including Marching Mizzou, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, University Philharmonic, MU Trombone Choir, MU Trombone Quartet and Studio Jazz Ensemble. He also sang in Concert Chorale for two years and was an active member at the Baptist Student Union during his entire undergraduate career. Erik was also the 2007 Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Underclassmen Brass Division Winner and the 2009 Missouri State Music Teachers Association (MTNA) Young Artist Brass Competition Runner-Up. Erik's principal teachers at Missouri were Dr. Troy Marsh, Dr. William Mann and Dr. Drew Leslie.
Outside of school, Erik enjoys traveling, acting, football and basketball (both college and professional), working at Panera Bread, Skyping with his girlfriend, and spending time with friends. Erik is a people person and really enjoys creating great friendships!
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Graduate student Caitlin Miekstyn is originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she played in some of the top ensembles at Grammy-winning Pioneer High School, as well as playing in both the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Youth Band. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in French from Bowling Green State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2010. Highlights of her undergraduate career include performing two recitals, the first of which featured all-French music, serving as a counselor and playing in several ensembles at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp during the summer of 2009, and performing a percussion, soprano, and trombone work composed for her entitled “La Cravate.” Her undergraduate teachers were Dr. William Mathis and Professor Garth Simmons. Additionally, she studied with Thierry Guilbert at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Tours during an academic year abroad in France. During her first year at Western Michigan University, Caitlin played in several chamber ensembles, including a few extra-curricular ones, worked in the Music and Dance Library, for which she was selected as one of two recipients of the University Libraries Scholarship for Fall 2011, and established a small studio in the Kalamazoo area. Starting in the Fall of 2011, Caitlin will be serving as a graduate assistant for the Bronco Marching Band and WMU Athletic Bands.
Besides music and playing trombone, Caitlin enjoys teaching, traveling, speaking French, working out, playing, watching, and refereeing soccer, and reading.
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Graduate student Nathan Musch is originally from Ann Arbor, MI. While at WMU he has been recognized as an Honorable Mention selection in the International Trombone Association's prestigious Lewis Van Haney Tenor Trombone Philharmonic Prize the past two years in a row. Nate was a graduate of Ann Arbor's Huron High School where he was a member of the Symphony Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Band. With the band and orchestra he had opportunities to perform in Carnegie Hall and Boston’s Symphony Hall. Nate was a participant in the two week All-State Orchestra program at Interlochen, playing principal trombone. Nate also was a founding member of the Ann Arbor Trombone Choir, comprised of students from the private studio of Jonathan Holtfreter. He did his undergraduate work at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Trombone Performance in May of 2010. His teacher at Calvin was Daniel Mattson, who is a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony and the Western Brass Quintet. While at Calvin, Nate enjoyed playing in the Calvin Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and Brass Quintet, as well as other chamber ensembles. He was a featured soloist in both the 2008 Fall Music Festival and the December, 2009, Orchestra Concerto Concert.
Aside from music, Nate was very involved in sports throughout high school and part of college, primarily in track and field. In his spare time he likes to discover new music, go running, camping and, of course spend quality time with family and friends.