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Portrait of George Lewis – 27.10, Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln

On a concert put on by ColLAB Cologne, I was asked to play George Lewis’s Oraculum for solo trombone. It’s a powerful piece and I learned a lot about my own instrument through it. Performing as a professor for many of my new colleagues (and a full house!) added another layer to the experience. Hearing the piece live in that space, made every gesture more real – it’s a great piece and it needs an audience.

The concert was part of the festival Composing While Black and Queer, organized by my colleagues Anna Schürmer and Susanne Blumenthal. I was happy to have been a part of a festival that centers these voices.

Concert with MAM – 9.11, Dortmund
A few weeks later, I was in Dortmund with MAM, working again with Michael Maierhof. We played a new piece that takes his sound ideas further into the realm of light. It was great to play with new people in the ensemble and to perform in the unusual space of Tresor.West. It’s exciting when a piece feels like it’s evolving in real time, and this one definitely did.

Coming Up

Aix•tent Concert – 20.11, Aachen
My student ensemble in Aachen have been preparing a noisy, post-spectral program and been working hard on new techniques. We also had a masterclass with Wolfgang Bender, former violinist with the Kairos Quartet. The program includes music by Catherine Lamb, Julia Wolfe, and James Tenney. The students’ curiosity and energy is very rewarding.

Brigitte Kempen Wettbewerb – 21 & 22.11
I’ll be on the jury for the Brigitte Kempen Wettbewerb, this time for violins. Two days of competition. It’s interesting to participate as an outside perspective — not a string player myself — and I’m looking forward to hearing the different interpretations from the players and being on the other side, just listening and observing.

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