Razorbones Perform at the International Trombone Festival

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Razorbones Trombone Ensemble

The Razorbones, the University of Arkansas trombone ensemble, traveled to Iowa City to perform in the International Trombone Festival this past July. They were selected as one of 11 collegiate-level trombone ensembles to perform in the festival.

The Razorbones were invited to the festival after preparing and submitting a recording under the direction of Cory Mixdorf, assistant professor of trombone at the University of Arkansas.

"I was excited that the students were going to get this opportunity," Mixdorf said. "Not only for the students, but also to put the University of Arkansas on the map."

The Razorbones, which can include anywhere from eight to sixteen trombonists depending on the piece, took 13 students to the festival.

They prepared and performed several pieces at the festival, including Mixdorf's arrangement of the Allegretto movement from Leoš Janáček's Sinfonietta.

In addition to this, University of Arkansas composer and conductor Robert K. Mueller composed a piece for the ensemble called "Sinister and Somber Dances," which the Razorbones premiered at International Trombone Festival.

"Dr. Mueller's piece incorporated rhythmic challenges," Mixdorf said. "It was difficult because they were the first to play it and there was no recording to reference."

The Razorbones also faced the challenge of having only a day and a half to prepare together for the festival during the summer, but their spring preparation and dedication helped make up for lost time. Mixdorf added, "Being in that setting at that festival in this amazing room… everyone had their game faces on."

Upcoming Razorbones and University of Arkansas trombone studio events include a trombone studio recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, and the annual Arkansas Trombone Workshop Arkansas Trombone workshop on Feb. 23, 2019, here at the University of Arkansas.

About Cory Mixdorf: In addition to the Razorbones, Mixdorf was also selected to perform in the International Trombone Festival as a member of one of four Faculty Showcases.

He performed Joe Buono's Elegy at the International Trombone Festival, and he was also the director of Elegy's commission consortium to help fund its composition.

This consortium is made up of prominent orchestras in the U.S. and abroad, some of which include the New York Philharmonic, the Pittsburg Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the Tonhalle Orchester of Zurich, as well as distinguished collegiate pedagogies.

Mixdorf performed in the Southeast Trombone Symposium's Professor Choir, which is comprised of STS faculty and a number of artist-teachers from around the country. He can be heard on the group's recently released recording, Legacy.

He also performed with the Cramer Choir, an established ensemble tradition at the International Trombone Festival. The Cramer Choir includes members of distinguished teachers and performers who join together to rehearse, explore high quality music, and perform.