Luis M. Araya

This past week we had the privilege of having Terry Everson in Costa Rica to conduct the Brass Section of the Costa Rica National Symphony Orchestra for one concert and two master classes for all Costa Rican trumpet players.

The rehearsals with CRNS Brass were from Tuesday to Friday and the concert was this Sunday at 10:30 am. The program was:

John Cheetham - Keystone Celebration
Morten Lauridsen - O Magnum Mysterium
Gunther Schuller - Symphony for Brass and Percussion

- intermission –

Chris Hazell - Three Brass Cats
Traditional, arr. Peter Knudsvig - Two Spirituals. Terry Everson, Soloist.
Alfred Reed - Symphony for Brass and Percussion

Mr. Everson planned rehearsals very carefully and knew always what to ask to get the best from all of us. He also talked to us with much respect and in a very positive way. During the concert, he transmitted lots energy and enthusiasm to all of us and the concert went great!!

The master classes were Tuesday and Wednesday and he started by playing a short piece (Vizzuti´s Cascades on Tuesday and Persichetti´s Parable on Wednesday) and talked about his approach to music for a little before working with some trumpet players. He is one of the most incredible artists I have ever seeing playing. He transcends, by much, the fact that he is a great trumpet player, he is a true artist.

I must say that Terry Everson´s approach to teaching is great. He had players to focus mainly in the music to fix any other physical/technical difficulty and the results were always that players ended playing with a more resonant and ringing sound and an easy of playing that was reflected in a more expressive approach.

Some of the players were students of the National Institute of Music, Costa Rica University´s School of Music and some professionals as well.

Personally, I am very thankful to Mr. Everson for the hard work he did in Costa Rica and hope to have him here again in the future.

Luis M. Araya

P.S. I someone tell me how to post pictures I will do it, (sorry I don´t know how to do it now!!)