Contribution

Contributed by WMU Public Relations

KALAMAZOO (MICH.)–Eric Bowman recently won an unprecedented “finalist” designation in two separate solo competitions conducted by the International Trombone Association.

Kirsten Schaffert

Eric Bowman, a senior trombone major from Portage, Mich., has just learned that he has been named a finalist in the J.J. Johnson Jazz Trombone Competition for jazz players up to age 25. The recognition comes after Bowman learned he was named a finalist in the Frank Smith Trombone Solo Competition, which also includes students to age 25–mostly master’s and doctoral students.

“This is really outstanding,” says one of Bowman’s teachers, Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger, professor of music. “To the best of my knowledge, no other student has ever been recognized as a finalist in both the jazz and classical categories. So this is a real tribute to Eric.”

The list of fellow finalists and alternates is impressive. Bowman will compete against students from the countries of France and the United Kingdom, with alternates and honorable mention recognitions to students from Berklee College of Music, The Paris Conservatory, New York University, The Juilliard School and the University of Illinois.

Bowman’s latest feat is further testament to the accomplishments of trombone students in the WMU School of Music in the recent International Trombone Association solo competitions. In addition to Bowman, Kristen Schaffert was named a finalist in the Larry Wiehe International Solo Competition and Evan Clifton was designated a finalist in George Roberts International Solo Competition. Graduate students Erik Dancy and Nate Musch also were recognized, with Dancy awarded second alternate finalist and Musch receiving an honorable mention. High school senior Austin Muusse, also Wolfinbarger’s student, also received an honorable mention.

“WMU is now represented by three trombone students as finalists in four of the international solo competitions, with three additional students being recognized as alternates or honorable mentions,” Wolfinbarger says. “A former student who now studies at a major conservatory even mentioned that we’re starting to get a reputation as being the ‘killer trombone studio’ out there.”

Bowman is among four other trombone students in the Western Michigan University School of Music who hit high notes in recent international competitions, with three of them heading to Paris as a result.

Bowman along with Kristen Schaffert of Sanford, Mich., and Evan Clifton of Howell, Mich., have all been named finalists in recent International Trombone Association solo competitions and will be traveling to Paris this summer to continue competing.

Evan Clifton

Bowman, a senior trombone performance major, was named a finalist in the Frank Smith Trombone Solo Competition, which includes students to age 25, mostly master’s and doctoral students. Bowman has won a number of prestigious competitions during his tenure at WMU.

Schaffert, a music education senior at WMU, was named a finalist in the Larry Wiehe International Solo Competition. The competition is for students through age 23.

Clifton, a freshman bass trombone major, has been named one of three finalists in the George Roberts International Solo Competition, which includes bass trombone students 18 and under. Clifton is also a finalist in the National Trombone Solo Competition, sponsored by the U.S. Army Band and set for March.

WMU graduate trombone students also made their marks in the recent competitions.

Graduate student Erik Dancy has been awarded second alternate finalist, equivalent to fifth place, in the Larry Wiehe Solo competition, while graduate student Nate Musch received an honorable mention in the Lewis Van Haney Philharmonic Prize competition, a contest for aspiring orchestral players. This is the second year in a row for Musch to earn honorable mention status in the very competitive event.

Last, but certainly not least, high school senior Austin “A.J.” Muusse, a non-university student of WMU Music Professor Steve Wolfinbarger, won honorable mention in the George Roberts Solo Competition.

“These students worked so hard to get to this point,” Wolfinbarger says. “The competitions represent the highest level of student trombone competition in the world. All you have to do is look at the major programs represented by the other finalists.”

Clifton, for instance, will compete against students from the Julliard School and the United Kingdom for the grand prize this July in Paris. Bowman will compete against a student from the Eastman School of Music.

“We are fortunate to have more students recognized than any other school in the country,” Wolfinbarger says.