PROGRAM

Scherzo from Symphony No. 10 – Dmitri Shostakovich, arr. Andrew Duncan

Flowerdale from Hymn of the Highlands – Philip Sparke
Mitch Townley, Eb Soprano Cornet

October – Eric Whitacre, arr. Jesse Rackley

Overture to La Forza Del Destino – Giuseppe Verdi, arr. Frank Wright

Sunrise Over Blue Ridge – Dan Price

Concertpiece for Cornet – James Curnow
David Dash, Trumpet
James Curnow, Conductor

Fire in the Blood – Paul Lovatt-Cooper

PERFORMERS

About the Triangle Brass Band

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SPECIAL GUESTS

James Curnow, Conducting

American composer James Curnow received a Bachelor of Music degree from Wayne State University and a Master of Music from Michigan State University. He has taught all areas and levels of instrumental music, and has received numerous awards for teaching and composition, including the Outstanding Educator of America, the Citation of Excellence from the National Bandmasters Association, the North American Brass Band President’s Award, the Volkwein Composition Award (twice), the American Bandmasters Association Ostwald Award (twice), the International Competition for Original Compositions for Band, and the Coup de Vents Composition Competition of Le Havre, France. He was named Composer of the Year by the Kentucky Music Teachers Association and the National Music Teachers Association. Most recently he received the Arts Achievement Award from Wayne State University. He has received annual ASCAP standard awards since 1979.

Curnow has been commissioned to write over 400 works for concert band, brass band, orchestra, choir, and various vocal and instrumental ensembles. His total published works now number well over 800. As a conductor, composer, and clinician he has traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe, where his music has received wide acclaim.

Curnow currently resides in North Carolina with his wife Margaret, and is a full time composer of commissions worldwide. He publishes with Hal Leonard LLC/Curnow Music Press, Inc. He serves as Composer-in-Residence Emeritus for Asbury University (Wilmore, KY) and is editor of all music publications for The Salvation Army in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mark Norman, Conducting

I believe in developing students to become their own best teachers. Students have lessons usually once a week yet they practice for hours each day. This means they have to have tools in how to identify and address issues on their own. I provide pedagogical information and consistently ask students what they hear and how they would begin the process of improving issues in performance.

David Dash, Trumpet

David Dash joined the UNCSA Music faculty in 2017. In the summer, he performs with the Santa Fe Opera. He was Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Naples (Fla.) Philharmonic and a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, where he performed as a soloist and toured much of the United States. He has also performed with the Baltimore, Atlanta and San Francisco symphonies, the Florida Orchestra, Sarasota Opera and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival.

Mitch Townley, Eb Soprano Cornet

Mitchell Townley serves as the E-flat Soprano Cornet player for the Triangle Brass Band. He earned his Bachelor’s of Instrumental Music Education from Appalachian State University in 2016. While at Appalachian State, he competed in the National Trumpet Competition Semi-Finals in 2015 and 2016, as well as performing as a soloist with the Appalachian Wind Ensemble. Mitchell is the Band director at North Johnston High School in Kenly, NC. In 2017, he was named “Beginning Teacher of the Year” for North Johnston High School. When not at North Johnston, Mitchell maintains a private Trumpet studio and works as a freelance trumpet player. He resides with his partner Kallie, and their dog, Percy, in Garner, NC.

Jesse Rackley, Conducting

Currently located in Raleigh, NC, Jesse is an accomplished tenor trombonist, euphoniumist, and educator. He is the Principal Trombone of the Fayetteville Symphony and Tar River Philharmonic and second trombone with the Carolina Philharmonic. He performs regularly with the North Carolina Symphony and has performed with the Wilmington symphony, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, Durham Symphony and Eastern Music Festival Orchestra. As a soloist, Jesse has been featured with the Triangle Brass Band, Triangle Youth Brass Band, Triangle Youth Brass Ensemble, 440th US Army Band, and East Carolina Tuba Ensemble.

Jesse was the winner of the 2009 and 2007 Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference’s solo euphonium competition, runner up in the 2002 International Tuba Euphonium Conference’s Young Artist solo competition, semi-finalist in the 2002 Leonard Falcone International Tuba Euphonium Competition, and was the winner of the 2002 NC Governor’s School Concerto Competition.

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