The Monette Brass Clinic 2000 was a great success!  With even more clinicians and events than previous Monette conferences, the days were full of performances, clinics, lessons, masterclasses, socializing and some amazing music!

Some of the highlights of the show included clinicians such as Urban Agnas, who dazzled us with virtuoso performances in solo recital, chamber music and small group jazz settings!  Charles Schlueter led several all-Samadhi trumpet sections in trumpet ensemble literature and in orchestral excerpts, and also played a few solo pieces that left the audience begging for more! Mark Isham gave two sessions: the first clinic on film score writing and studio production practices, and the second, an informal concert with part of his L.A. band - with Mark on electronic trumpet!

Trumpeters Freddy Valles and Chance Powell jam during Brian Lynch's clinic.

Dean Comley, Urban Agnas and Dave after one of Urban's amazing performances.

Karen Hangsterfer gave two "Yoga for Brass Players" clinics first thing Friday and Saturday mornings, and participants raved about how much looser and more open they felt afterwards.  Andrew Balio from the Israel Philharmonic gave a clinic on breath and resonance that followed and complimented the Yoga class beautifully - and he showed us his non-playing 10 minute warm-up he uses on tours.

Friday night there was a small group jazz jam featuring Brian Lynch, Scotty Barnhart, Ravi Best, Thara Memory, Urban Agnas and Mark Isham and the Ron Steen Trio that had the audience not only on its feet but jumping up and down!  Wynton Marsalis and the LCJO trumpet section came in for an informal clinic and small group demonstration Saturday, and then the entire Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra showed us the art of large group jazz performance on the final Saturday evening concert.  Wynton even dedicated the opening tune of the second half of the concert to Dave Monette!

Urban, Matt Sonneborn, Andrew Balio and Charlie Schlueter rehearse the day before the show.

Thara Memory, Brian Lynch, Mark Isham, Ravi Best, Scotty Barnhart and Urban Agnas in the mouthpiece room between performances.

Many participants have written us that the event was the best music conference they had ever attended, and in the following photos you can see for yourself at least a little bit of what went on here.  There were many other clinics and clinicians featured over the weekend, and you can see and read more about it in detail in our VIRTUAL BRASS CLINIC!

We would like to thank our official photographer Alfred Willener who traveled all the way from Switzerland to help us document this event.  Alfred sent the shop a wonderful album of photos from the show.  Thank you Alfred! Our shop photographer was Tom Johnson, who took many of the photos you see here.  Thanks for your help Tom! We would also like to thank Ken Saul,  who used his HP C500 digital camera to take a few of the photos shown throughout.  He even prepared an album for our shop covering most of the events!  Lastly, local photographer Bruce Forster shot a roll of film for us to help out in a pinch.  Bruce shot the recent instrument pictures you see in our catalogs and web site.

Alfred Willener Tom Johnson

Special thanks to Mike Thompson, Greg Grimes, Ben McDonald, Floyd Oster, John Raschella, Robert Chapin, Steve Conrow, Tom Johnson, Alfred Willener, Mychele Morrill and all the extended crew!

And, of course, the Monette shop and office staff: Gretchen Willoughby, Dean Willoughby, Dan Haswell, Tom Raney, Travis Steffen, Dean Comley, Jeff Snyder and Seb Bibb-Barrett.  These folks are amazing!

Andrew Balio, John Raschella, Matt Sonneborn and Ed Cord join Charlie Schlueter in the Monette mouthpiece room.

Ravi Best and Scotty Barnhart talk with Mark Isham between clinics.

Monette mouthpiece maker Dean Comley with Urban Agnas and Scotty Barnhart.

Minneapolis Monette mouthpiece dealer Greg Grimes helps a new client try mouthpieces between clinics.

Mark Isham gets into even more detail about his composition work during an informal talk between clinics.

Urban Agnas talks with new Monette client Mark Reese of the Empire Brass Quintet.

Elias Dubelston ran the sound and recording equipment for the clinic.  He is joined here by his father Paul, his brother Andre and Mark Isham & Co.

Too many clinicians in one photo to name them all, but they were all having a great time!

Urban Agnas and Mark Isham compare notes with Dean Comley and Dave Monette between clinics.

BJ Cord sounded great in an informal jam session!  You will be hearing more from him in the future!

Scotty Barnhart takes up the piano keyboard to give a few players a chance at blowing some changes between clinics.

Ravi Best tries Ron Miles' Nirvikalpa Samadhi with Ben Kibbey and Dave Monette listening in.

Dave, Mark and Ravi

Greg Grimes worked very hard helping clients over the weekend, but he kept  smiling the whole time!

Professor Isham blows a few notes on a RAJA for Andrew Balio and Dave to enjoy.

Dave Monette is a fan of Mark Isham's music

The Gang from Omaha...

Mark Isham and Charlie Schlueter compare notes between clinics.

Our official photographer, Dr. Alfred Willener.  Thanks for the amazing work, Alfred!

Our friend and client Floyd Oster was a big help over the weekend.  Thanks Floyd!

Achim Gorsch and Charlie Schlueter having a good time!

Jerry Webster gave a great clinic, and he has a  new book we think is exceptional!

Brian Lynch, Dave Monette and Andrew Balio enjoying one of many clinics.

Mike Thompson was a huge help to us in organizing the clinic, and as usual he never ran out of energy or enthusiam.  Thanks Tike!

John Raschella and Andrew Balio discuss sharks between clinics.

Keith Johnson with Kevin and Missy Woelfel.  Kevin owns Rocky Mountain Case Works, and was the founder of Wolfpak.

Charlie Schlueter giving a private lesson between clinics.

Matt Sonneborn and John Raschella in rehearsal.