ITF2008 : May 28-31 : Salt Lake City

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Artists

Utah's Ultimate Trombone Ensemble

Began in 1998 and originally named University of Utah Trombone Ensemble, UUTE began as a nine member trombone ensemble made up of Russell McKinney’s trombone studio at the University of Utah at that time. It quickly grew over the next few years and began to include area professionals as well as top students from other music schools in Utah. Between the years 2001-2004 the group really took off and each Friday afternoon September to May, the band room at the U filled up with 25 or more trombonists from all over central Utah. McKinney and other members of the group began arranging for he ensemble and most concerts had themes to draw the selections together, one of the most popular being 2003: The Attack of the Bone Clones- The Trombone Menace.

With McKinney’s departure from the faculty at the U in 2005, the group re-formed and made its rehearsal and performance home at First Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City where McKinney became Music Director in 2003. The acronym UUTE had already taken on new meanings at various times, and as the group didn’t wish to part with its cool logo, so the name Utah’s Ultimate Trombone Ensemble was adopted and stuck. The make-up of the group now consists of the top college student talent from the area, college professors, area free-lance artists, some members of the Utah Symphony (active and retired) and a few serious adult trombone hobbyists (aka weekend warriors) many of whom currently study or have studied with McKinney. The group numbers between 18-25 trombonists performing on alto, tenor, and bass trombones according to the needs of the repertoire. Percussion, organ and rhythm section are added as needed and the group draws on members of the Utah Symphony to fill these roles.

UUTE’s Christmas Concert, which has been listed on the Salt Lake Tribune’s “Christmas concerts not to miss” several times over the years is a fixture on the Community Concert Series at First Presbyterian. UUTE continues to provide pre-concert entertainment at the Utah Symphony’s Christmas Pops concerts (since 1999) and gives at least one other concert each year largely comprised of arrangements and compositions from group members.

Russell McKinney is the bass trombonist of the Utah Symphony (since 1989), Director of Low Brass Studies at the Horne School of Music at Snow College, Assistant Lecturer of Bass Trombone at Brigham Young University and Music Director of the First Presbyterian Church, where he also manages the church’s concert series. (www.snow.edu/~music/Rustyhome.htm and www.fpcslc.org)

Utah Trombone Authority, formed in 2005, often performs with UUTE, as well as it’s own concerts and is made up of Dr. Mark Ammons, Assistant Director of the School of Music at BYU, Dr. Will Kimball, Assistant Professor of Trombone at BYU Jim Nova, Assistant Principal Trombone of the Utah Symphony and Russell McKinney.

UUTE and UTA are pleased to celebrate UUTE’s 10th Anniversary with performances at the 2008 ITF featuring some of the best music that have come out of the group’s arrangers.