ITEA Journal Volume 49 Number 1 (Fall 2021)

Of Note
By Tom Hentschel

2021 Pokorny Low Brass Seminar

The 2021 Pokorny Low Brass Seminar took place at Northern Illinois University from July 22-25, 2021. The Seminar was open to everyone, including advanced high school students to professional symphony musicians to university professors. Attendees registered as a performer or an auditor. This event was much more of a workshop than a festival, and the focus was on practical skills for symphonic low brass performers.

Gene Pokorny in Recital at Park Plaza Jewish Senior Living Community

Among the many activities were faculty solo and ensemble recitals, masterclasses, clinics, orchestra section work, reading sessions, and mock auditions. The class sizes were kept small to promote increased interaction between the performers and the faculty.

Gene Pokorny with Students

The seminar was led by the following workshop faculty:

Gene Pokorny Principal Tuba, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Smith Principal Tuba, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Scott Tegge Tuba, Northern Illinois University
Tim Higgins Principal Trombone, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Megumi Kanda Principal Trombone, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Brian Hecht Trombone, Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Timothy Riordan Trombone, Northern Illinois University
Andrew Glendening Trombone, Northern Illinois University
Randall Hawes Bass Trombone, Detroit Symphony Orchestra (retired)
Douglas Yeo Bass Trombone, Boston Symphony Orchestra (retired), Wheaton College

The seminar included a recital by Gene Pokorny and pianist Yoko Yamada-Selvaggio at the Park Plaza Jewish Senior Living Community on July 20.

Andrew Smith Teaching a Seminar Participant

Low Brass Section Excerpts Performance

Gene Pokorny has been Principal Tuba of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1989 when he took over the position from the legendary Arnold Jacobs. Early in his career, Gene was the Principal Tuba of the Israel Philharmonic. Given the time he spent in Israel, it was fitting that he greeted the predominantly Jewish audience in Hebrew.

Gene Pokorny and Kevin Harrison

A highlight of the performance was Remembrances written in honor of the Dixieland sousaphonist Red Lehr by Micky Wrobleski. Gene had become fast friends with Red during Gene's time in the St. Louis Symphony. Red passed on January 5, 2021, and the music arrived from Micky on January 9, 2021.

Gene was joined on the final piece by Kevin Harrison. Kevin is a freelance tubist in the Chicago area and plays in the Axiom Brass Quintet. He is a member of the brass faculty at Wheaton College in Wheaton Illinois. The audience, who were primarily non-musicians, were surprised and delighted that two tubas could play such a piece.

Gene Pokorny Tuba Recital
Tuesday July 20^th
Park Plaza Jewish Senior Living Community
Chicago, Illinois
Gene Pokorny Tuba and Yoko Yamada-Selvaggio Piano

Program

Ashokan Farewell Jay Ungar

Assorted Songs Gerald Finzi
I. To Joy
II. In Years Defaced
III. Life Laughs Onward

Remembrances Micky Wrobleski
Written January 9, 2021 for the one, the only, the great David "Red" Lehr

Tuba Concerto James M Stephenson
II. Ballade
III. Dance

Vivace from Double Violin Concerto J.S. Bach
With Special Guest Kevin Harrison, Tuba

Gene Pokorny in Recital at NIU

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