EARLY DAYS

BY TOM LEES

The British Trombone Festival 2022 competition schedule has a newcomer this year: the inaugural BTS Sackbut Competition, in association with Egger Instruments.

The intention of the competition is to give a platform to the many young trombonists, both at home and abroad, who have chosen to explore performance practices on original instruments. Covid-19 and lockdowns have been tough for everyone, not least for those just leaving music college and forging their own paths in the music profession, so it is hoped that this competition will give them something to work towards.

The competition is being generously supported by Egger Instruments who are offering a 1st prize of a £500 voucher towards the cost of one of their instruments, and a 2nd prize of one of their historical mouthpieces. Based in Basel, Switzerland, Egger Instruments have been at the forefront of producing extremely high-quality instruments according to historical methods for 80 years. They make beautiful sackbuts after Hieronymous Starck, Sebastian Hainlein, Anton Schnitzer, the Elder and Isaac Ehe that are used by leading players all over the world.

The competition is also supported by the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble who are offering all entrants access to open rehearsals, with the finalists being offered additional mentoring and ‘side by side’ opportunities.

The initial round requires submission of a 10-minute recorded programme. This can be on any sackbut and is a completely free choice programme – playing with other instruments or voices is acceptable as long as the sackbut features prominently!

From this initial round, three finalists will be chosen to play in a live competition as part of the British Trombone Festival 2022 at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on Sunday 30th October. The day will also include a sackbut workshop and recital by Emily White, providing opportunity to explore the origins of our instrument and hear music from early in the trombone’s history. Hopefully it will inspire some of you to have a go.

Full details of entry can be found on the BTS website. ◆

eggerinstruments.ch

Reproductions of historical sackbuts and mouthpieces

RENAISSANCE – BAROQUE – CLASSICAL – ROMANTIC