Dr. Mark Babbitt, Professor of Trombone at Illinois State University, and Dr. John Orfe, Assistant Professor of Music at Bradley University, will present a program of trombone and piano duos on Sunday, September 4, 7:30 p.m. in Dingeldine Music Center, located at 1417 W. Barker Ave. in Peoria. The event is free and open to the public.
The program will feature German-American composer Paul Hindemith’s iconic “Sonata for Trombone and Piano,” Swiss composer Frank Martin’s lush “Ballade,” Polish composer Karlheinz Serocki’s kinetic “Sonatina,” and Danish composer Vagn Holmboe’s subtle and intriguing “Sonata.” In addition, Dr. Babbitt will perform “Circles,” a solo work by Holmboe’s student Bent Lørenson.
Mark Babbitt is principal trombone of the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. He has won numerous competitions and soloed in several concertos for trombone and band or orchestra. In his ten years on the West Coast, he performed extensively in the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera. He can be heard on the Naxos, Albany, MCC, Mark, and R.E.D. Distribution record labels.
John Orfe is a founding member of the critically acclaimed new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound. He has recorded on the Canteloupe, Nonesuch and Parma labels. His performances in Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall, the Muziekgebouw in the Netherlands, and elsewhere have earned praise from the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, and various other media.
Drs. Babbitt and Orfe also will perform this program on Friday at 8 p.m. at Illinois State University’s Kemp Recital Hall.
