The morning started out with a brief welcome and introduction from Dave Monette.  Shop employees were introduced, as well as all the special helpers we brought in for the event.  At this clinic we had an average of one Monette representative for every 13 participants - so hopefully everyone who attended received a fair amount of personal attention.

John Henes started things out with the first clinic on the Alexander Technique.  John is a master Alexander teacher and also formerly a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera trumpet section.  John has clients that visit him from all over the world, and we were fortunate to have him featured as a clinician again this year.  His home studio is located in Evanston Ill, where he also teaches at Northwestern University. Anyone interested in follow up work with John can reach him at his studio at (847)475-3087.

Keith Johnson is the Regents Professor of Trumpet at the University of North Texas, and is known as a top teacher, performer and author.  His book, THE ART OF TRUMPET PLAYING, is well known as a text book in many colleges and universities.  Keith has a wonderful gift for putting students at ease and then coaxing unusual amounts of music out of them!  This year Keith worked with two high school students, Andre Dubelsten and Becky Mason.  In addition to his clinic/masterclass, Keith also taught quite a few private lessons over the course of the weekend. 

Professor John Aley is a former member of the American Brass Quintet, and also a former winner of the Maurice Andre competition.  Although John has a full time position now as professor of trumpet at the University of Wisconsin Madison, he also performs regularily in the Madison Symphony and the Wisconsin Brass Quintet. 

This was John's first presentation at a Monette Brass Clinic, and he spent most of his time playing for the group, to our delight!  His informal recital included: Stevens Tournament (with Urban); Ketting Intrada; Bennett Rose Variations; Friedman Fanfare for Solus (4th Movement); Peeters Aria (2nd movement); Artunian Scherzo.

Brian has become a mainstay in the New York jazz scene, with his regular appearances with both his own group Spheres of Influence and also in his capacity as trumpeter with the Phil Woods Quintet.

Brian's clinic this year was a primer on jazz improvisation for players with little or no experience  playing jazz - and it was GREAT!  He talked about the most basic forms of jazz performance, and demonstrated enough jazz and blues fundamentals that most anyone could stand up and play a basic chorus of blues without embarrasing themselves!  Thanks for the clinic, Brian.

Professor Cord's clinic was called "Finding Your Sound," and in the course of his clinic he touched on several conceptual elements that define the quality of musical performance.  Because music is sound, Ed talked about and demonstrated a wide variety of playing styles and sound concepts - some more effective than others - that players seem to gravitate towards.  He talked about specific physical challenges that can alter one's sound, including body alignment, breath, embouchure, and above all each player's own unique sound concept. 

Urban Agnas is formerly principal trumpet of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, and is a founding member of the Stockholm Chamber Brass.  He is a virtuoso in orchestra, chamber, solo and small group jazz performance, and he demonstrated this many times over during the three days of our Brass Clinic!

Urban's solo recital included the 
Honegger Intrada, Telemann Konzert in D, Enesco Legend, Lars Erik Larsson Concertino, Sutermeister Gavotte de Concert, Robert Henderson Variations and movements for solo trumpet.

...and not only did he not miss a single note in the entire performance, but he played with an energy and excitement that thrilled the audience!

Avante Garde Jazz artist Ron Miles brought his band in from Denver, and the performance was truly amazing!  Ron has a unique sound and style that can be identified in the first few notes of any tune he plays - and his band was absolutley top notch.  Ron played many selections from his last few CD's, and by the time the concert ended, the audience was on its feet, clapping, stomping and hollering for more.  Ron plays our most elaborate instrument to date, a decorated Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Ron's latest CD is called "Ron Miles Trio" released earlier this year.