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Lamont trombone and euphonium students at Lamont study with Richard Harris, who has an eclectic career as a soloist, chamber musician and educator. He is the former Assistant Principal Trombone of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and has been a guest with many of the U.S.'s top symphony orchestras, including the Boston Symphony and the Metropolitan Opera. He has appeared on Grammy award winning albums and Oscar winning movie soundtracks. In addition to being on faculty at DU, he teaches at the Raphael Mendez Brass Institute, the Idyllwild Summer Academy and hosts his own low brass seminar "RichardTromboneCamp!" during the summers in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The Lamont trombone studio regularly welcomes esteemed musicians for masterclasses. Recent guests include:

  • Peter Steiner, international touring artist
  • Bill Stanley, Associate Professor of Trombone at CU Boulder
  • Toby Oft, Principal Trombone of the Boston Symphony
  • Dr. Brad Edwards, Arizona State University
  • Scott Hartman, Yale University
  • M.D. Stewart, Indiana University (retired)
  • Chris Houlding, Hochshule Dusiburg, Essen
  • Ilan Morgenstern, Vancouver Symphony
  • Demian Austin, Principal Trombone, Metropolitan Opera

The inaugural Low Brass Weekend saw Joe Alessi, Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic, in residency for a week. He presented four masterclasses, four solo performances, a talk with Warren Deck and private lessons.

Auditions

Applicants may choose to either audition in person in Denver OR submit a recorded video audition and complete a Zoom interview. 

Applications received after January 15 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You may indicate your preference for a live or virtual audition on the Lamont application.

Click here to view the current year’s audition/interview dates and the full steps for how to apply.

Live Audition

All auditions are approximately 15 minutes in length. The applicant will choose one of their prepared works to perform. The faculty will choose the second of the prepared works and possibly an additional work as well.

Recorded Video Audition & Zoom Interview

Applicants unable to travel to Denver for a live audition may submit an unedited video audition via the Lamont application AND will complete a live Zoom interview. 

The interview will last about 20 minutes. It will include a performance of part of one of your prepared audition pieces, a short sight-reading exercise, and a Q&A with the faculty.

Audition Repertoire Requirements

Undergraduate (BM, BA and Minor)


Trombone and Bass Trombone

  • 2 contrasting solo pieces
  • Any Bordogni etude (arr. Rochut) of your choice
  • All major and minor scales


Euphonium

  • A melodious etude 
  • A study to demonstrate technical facility
  • Any solo of your choice
View jazz requirements

Graduate (MM and Certificate in Performance)


Trombone and Bass Trombone

  • 2 contrasting solo pieces
  • Any Bordogni etude (arr. Rochut) of your choice
  • All major and minor scales
  • 3 standard excerpts from the orchestral literature


Euphonium

  • A melodious etude 
  • A study to demonstrate technical facility
  • Two major solos from the repertoire
  • 4 or 5 standard military band excerpts

Review requirements for Artist Diploma
Review requirements for Certificate in Orchestral Studies

View jazz requirements

Faculty

 
See All Brass & Percussion Faculty
Richard Harris

Richard Paul Harris

Assistant Professor

Learn More

 

  • Alessi Harris Deck

    Joe Alessi (Principal Trombone of the New York Philharmonic), Richard Harris, and Warren Deck.

  • Harris Alessi Wiest

    Richard Harris, Joe Alessi, and Steve Wiest.

  • Trombone student
university buildings at night

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