Legendary Trombonists Take Over the Theatre

TEMPE, Ariz. – Legendary bass trombonist Charles G. Vernon slides into the ASU Herberger College School of Music for one FREE night of spectacular music making this February with the ASU Symphony Orchestra.  Vernon currently is the bass trombonist of the Chicago Symphony.  He joins fellow trombonist and guest conductor Henry Charles Smith, who was principal trombonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra for many years and won a Grammy® Award with the Philadelphia Brass Ensemble in 1969.  Smith also was the associate and resident conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra where he conducted over 1000 concerts.  This famous match-up will shake things up a bit at ASU – Chicago style.

The pair will take on Chick ’a’ Bone Checkout, a piece composed by Christian Lindberg, one of the most famous trombone soloists in the world.  The seven-movement piece not only is dedicated to Charles G. Vernon, but is a tribute to the Windy City and was inspired by Carl Sandburg’s poems and Jan Olof Olsson’s book, Chicago.  
In addition to Lindberg’s Chick ’a’ Bone Checkout, patrons also hear pieces by Yarbrough and Tchaikovsky.  Trombone and brass aficionados alike cannot miss these world-renown musicians at this free concert. 

Join Henry Charles Smith, guest conductor; Charles G. Vernon, trombone soloist; and the ASU Symphony Orchestra Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at ASU Gammage, 1200 S. Forrest Avenue, Tempe.  For more information visit www.asugammage.com or call (480) 965-TUNE (8863).
            
The School of Music in the Herberger College of Fine Arts at Arizona State University is ranked 19th in the country and eighth among public institutions by U.S. News & World Report. More than 100 music faculty artists and scholars work with approximately 800 music majors each year in research, performance and scholarly activities. It presents approximately 700 concerts and recitals each year. To learn more about the School of Music, visit http://music.asu.edu.