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Texas A&M-Kingsville trombone choir places at international competition

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Texas A&M University-Kingsville trombone choir

Texas A&M University-Kingsville trombone choir

School of Music students and professors at Texas A&M University-Kingsville are once again earning international recognition.

The trombone choir, led by Dr. Oscar Diaz and assisted by Dr. Megan Boutin, was named the Second Runner-up in the Emory Remington Competition, which is one of several competitions held by the International Trombone Association. 

“For the Texas A&M-Kingsville Select Trombone Ensemble to place second runner-up is a huge accomplishment,” Diaz said. “Not only because this competition is truly at the highest international level, but it is also incredibly significant for the university to place so well because many of the other ensembles that competed, which (A&M-Kingsville) placed above, are recognized as truly some of the best trombone studios in the world.”

Diaz said the association is the most significant and important organization for professional, collegiate, and amateur trombonists all over the world. The Remington Competition is named after a major figure in trombone pedagogy, Emory Remington, who taught at the Eastman School of Music for about 50 years.

Each year, ensembles from around the world submit recordings which are then judged and ranked, with the top honors being Winner, First Runner-up, Second Runner-up, and Honorable Mention. 

Diaz submitted recordings of two required pieces chosen by the ITA committee. Eight of the top players participated in one piece and 16 top players for the other piece. 

“This is a major factor in attracting the best professionals to visit and perform at Texas A&M-Kingsville, as well as a major factor in attracting and recruiting students to audition for the trombone studio,” Diaz said. “This is a huge boost to our newly-named School of Music to have such a high placement for one of our studios. When students choose which music school to attend, seeing major accomplishments and placement in this competition is a big factor in attracting them.” 

In the past, the Texas A&M-Kingsville trombone choir has been awarded an Honorable Mention award.

Students who competed include Jesse Atkinson of Rio Hondo; Ronald Brown of Nacogdoches, Amanda Esteves of Cedar Park; Carlos D. Garcia of Rio Grande City; Carlos J. Garcia of Brownsville; Joey Guerra of Brownsville; Abel Garza of Harlingen; Matthew Gallegos of Alice; Jesus Ibarra of McAllen; Reynol Martinez of Eagle Pass; Jorge Rodriguez of Brownsville; Patrick Schmidt of Brownsville; Marco Villarreal of Brownsville; Jose Astorga of Brownsville; Marcos Cuellar of Laredo; Eric Garcia of Houston.

Category: General Univ , Arts/Sciences

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