Music Speaks

Mississippi native Kyle Moore currently serves as the graduate teaching assistant for the trombone studio and as trombone instructor for the Community Music School at the University of Georgia. As a winner of the 2019 Jacqueline-Avent Concerto Competition, he performed Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Concerto for Bass Tuba with the Festival Orchestra at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. He has also appeared as a soloist with the UGA Trombone Ensemble and with members of the University of Southern Mississippi Trombone Choir.

Kyle has been a finalist in the American Trombone Workshop’s National Solo Competition and in the UGA Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. He’s also performed in masterclasses led by Jeremy Wilson, Zoltan Kiss, James Markey, Toby Oft, and Jörgen van Rijen, among others.

In addition to his online teaching commitments and performing schedule in the Southeast, Kyle has performed with the Georgia, LaGrange, Mobile, and Mississippi Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestras, as well as Big Band Atlanta, the Gulf Coast Big Band, and the jazz fusion ensemble Misnomer.

Kyle’s passions include, but are not limited to, pedagogy, physiology, yoga, coffee, writing, and injury prevention and recovery.

Kyle‘s primary teachers include Dr. Joshua Bynum, Dr. Martin McCain, Dr. Ben McIlwain, and Mr. Justin Harvison.

We sat down with Kyle to discuss his interest in Injury Prevention, Recovery and Wellness. We also have a surprise guest!

Ricardo T. Brown is a native of Portsmouth, VA. The second child of Ricardo Sr. and Terry Brown. He received his high school degree from Churchland High School where he was selected to All District Band, All-State Band and Virginia Honor Band. He was also a student in The Governor's school of the Performing Arts under the baton of Mr. Ray Pancarowicz. He then went on to Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA receiving his Bachelors and Masters Degrees studying trumpet with Dr. Steve Carlson and Dr. Timmey Zachery. While at Norfolk State he was principal trumpet in the wind ensemble, Brass Quintet, as well as lead in the University Jazz Ensemble under Ms. Stephanie K. Sanders as well as a performance with Mr. Frank Foster, legendary jazz saxophonist. He then furthered his education at Cambridge College in Boston, MA pursuing a degree in Educational Administration.

Mr. Brown began his teaching career working under Mr. John Boyd as the Assistant Director at Princess Anne High School in 2005. He then moved on to W.E Waters, where he was previously a student, in 2007. He was then made the graduate assistant for the Norfolk State University band program. After 7 great years at Waters, Mr. Brown was afforded the opportunity to join the staff at Prairie View A&M University as the Assistant Director of Bands, Band Business Manager and Adjunct Professor. Mr. Brown was later appointed the Associate Director of Bands. When not working with the amazing students at Prairie View, Mr. Brown works with numerous ensembles around the country including the 2016 World Champion Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, the 2005 World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as numerous clinics and adjudicating engagements.

Mr. Brown has also performed with numerous ensembles including the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Beach Symphony, Fancy Pants Productions, The Right on Band, numerous churches, NASCAR, Houston Symphony, Ballet Afrique Cotton Club, and well as numerous performances and gigs across the country. In the marching idiom, Ricardo marched 5 years with Drum Corps international first in 1999 with The Crossmen then from Newark, Delaware for 1 season before moving on to The Cadets in 2001, and stayed there for 4 years. Mr. Brown also holds memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Jazz Educators’ Association. Previously, Mr. Brown was a member of the Virginia Music Educators Association. Mr. Brown has also had the opportunity to conduct many ensembles including the Portsmouth Public Schools All City Elementary school band as well as one of the highlights of his career, which was having the opportunity to conduct The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines with Tallwood High School in 2007.

At Prairie View Mr. Brown worked with all the band ensembles as well as being the Director of the Universities Large and Small Jazz Ensemble. At the University of Connecticut Mr. Brown will serve as the Associate Director of Bands. Mr. Brown Loves music and being able to help students grow in their matriculation through all institutions that he is associated with. He looks forward to assisting the band staff in moving the UCMB and all other ensembles he is associated with forward. Mr. Brown resides in Willington, CT with his wife, Tiffany, and their dog Hooch.

We sat down with Ricardo to discuss his top ten list, Go Check it Out!

We sat down with Alyssa Comeau, to discuss her recent production of American Idiot, (during a pandemic) and how it happened and was successful.

Enjoy!

Kam’ren Spence, also goes by Kam. He is 20 years old and a Junior Vocal Performance & Music Education major at Ithaca College. He is passionate about social justice and mental health. When he is not studying music, you can find him supporting organizations that aid in bringing awareness to an unjust system and breaking down systemic racism within our country. You can also see him supporting organizations that gives support to musicians who are facing their own mental challenges.

We sit down with Kam to get the scoop on Mental Health in Music! Go check it out!

Jeannette-Marie Lewis is a flutist and educator from Long Island, New York. Currently pursuing her D.M.A. in Flute Performance from the University of Maryland School of Music, Jeannette is exploring her passion for classical, jazz, and contemporary flute pedagogy. She completed an M.M. in Flute Performance from the Ithaca College School of Music, where she also holds a B.M. in Music Education. There, she served as a Graduate Assistant of Flute, Graduate Assistant of Vocal-General Student Teaching, Graduate Assistant to the Manager of Concerts and Facilities, and Stage Crew Manager. Jeannette has won positions with the Catskill Symphony Orchestra, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and U.S. Air Force Academy Band.

Mary Haddix is an avid music educator, and has held private and group teaching positions with the Madison Central High School Band, George Rogers Clark High School Band, Bourbon County High School Band, Oldham County Schools, and Scott County Schools. Mary keeps a private studio that includes middle and high school horn students from Madison, Fayette, Clark, Scott, and Bourbon County. She has also served on the KMEA All-State First Round Horn Judge Committee for District 7 for the last four years. Mary served as the State President for the Kentucky chapter of Collegiate National Association for Music Educators in 2017 and 2018. She is a graduate of the EKU Honors Program, the Kentucky Governor's School for the Arts, and has attended several chamber music festivals including the Spectrum Brass Institute at BayView Music Festival, the Marrowstone Music Festival, and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. She received First Place in the 2016 Josephine Walker American Music Competition at EKU, and has been the recipient of academic and music scholarships through EKU and UK, as well as through the Richmond Cecelian Club.

We sat down with Mary to discuss reality and workability of online lessons! Take a listen!

We sat down with Julie Dombroski, who is a New York City-based trombonist and music educator. Originally from Ontario, New York, she moved to New York City in 2018 to pursue her Master of Music at the Manhattan School of Music studying with Colin Williams of the New York Philharmonic. Since moving to NYC, Julie has performed with the City Lyric Opera, the Montclair Orchestra, eGALitarian and is the low brass sectional coach for the Fordham University Orchestra. We discussed how to stay inspired and how to be a working musician during the pandemic! Enjoy!

We sat down with our returning guest Gabi Sigona to discuss her new musical playlist, and to find out "Who is the Smartest Italian in the Sigona Household?" Is it Hunter, our co-host, or is it Gabi, our guest! Tune in to find out!

Here is a link to Gabi's picks: 

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0FEJGPco8XDuavxTp9M8Qc

We sat down the singer/songwriter, founder, and front woman for the group "Kendra and the Bunnies", talking about her band, her new album, and the songs and artists used as inspiration for said album.

Here are links to Kendra's picks:

https://youtu.be/HLXj0l9W8iE

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4uSiTfGeGntuQ5GsyfKJm3

We sat down with country artist and music businesswoman Sarah Harralson, discussing the country industry, life in Nashville, streaming royalties, and creativity in a time of COVID.