Report from International Euphonium Institute in Atlanta

From June 11-17 was featured as the International Guest Artist at the International Euphonium Institute 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. The festival was expertly hosted by euphonium virtuoso Adam Frey and his wife Janet and had 45 participants.

Tormod was booked to teach, to conduct masterclasses and warm-up classes as well as to perform as a soloist in three different concerts. The first concert was a 35 minute recital (program listed below) with pianist Janice Wong in the first half. The second half of the opening concert featured the Georgia Brass Band with soloists. Tormod performed the solo item Michelangelo (Dagsland/Rydland) and Brillante (Graham) in a duet with Adam.

Second concert was carried out at the Alpharetta First United Methodist Church north of Atlanta. Tormod played Solveigs Vuggesang (Grieg/Flaten) as a soloist and Two Fauré Duets (Fauré/Mead) with Adam. All superbly accompanied by Mitsuru Saito on piano which just happens to be a top class euphonium player as well!

The final concert featured the Band of the US Air Force Reserve and their conductor Chad Steffey. Tormod was the guest soloist in Ved Rundarne (Grieg/Aamodt) and Vallflickans Dans (Alfvén/Rydland) and performed the famous euphonium excerpt from The Melody Shop (King) at a furious one-in-a-bar tempo together with Adam and the Air Force Band's own euphoniumist John Caputo. Please visit Adam Frey's web site for reviews, moro photos and info.

Tormod's recital program:

Gordon Jacob: Fantasia for Euphonium
Halfdan Kjerulf, arr. Tormod Flaten: Mit Hjerte og Min Lyra
Jacques Castérède: Fantaisie Concertante
Carl Maria von Weber, arr. Philippe Fritsch: Andante e Rondo Ungarese
Lennon/McCartney, arr. L. Holmgaard: Blackbird