Recent Southwestern University graduate, Ashley H. Kraft composed a five-movement song cycle for soprano and trombone using text from poet Sara Teasdale. Kraft says she connects with Teasdale’s poetry and words and wanted to compose a piece using trombone and soprano. She chose the unusual combination of trombone and soprano because the “trombone slides like the voice slides.” 

See an interview with Ashley H. Kraft and rehearsals of her composition Love While You May performed by Eileen Meyer Russell, trombone and Dana Zenobi, soprano.

 

Kraft is a composer and vocalist in Round Rock. She has performed with the Austin Community College Concert Choir under the direction of Jimmy Shepherd and the Southwestern University Chorale with Kenny Sheppard. She is the recipient of the Dean Henry E. Meyer Memorial Composition Award and the 2013 Shearn Writing Award from Southwestern University. Kraft received her Bachelor of Music degree in Theory and Composition in May 2014. You can read more about her at www.ashleyhkraft.com.

Eileen Meyer Russell, low brass and Dana Zenobi, soprano will debut Kraft’s piece during their concert on Thursday, Oct 9, 2014 in the Lois Perkins Chapel. The concert includes Ellsworth Peterson, organ, Adrienne Inglis, flute, Robert Tung, bass trombone, and Peter Hollister, trombone. The program will also debut a piece by David R. Gaines, include some of his earlier work, Five Miniatures for flute and euphonium, and a transcription of Arcangelo Corelli’s, Trio Sonata, Opus 3, No.2.