James Naigus

Toward Eternity

tenor trombone, bass trombone, and piano, CCP3 (2019)

*Optional 2nd tenor trombone to substitute for bass trombone

World Premiere: August 6, 2019

MusiCamp Alberta at Red Deer College [Alberta, Canada]
- Alden Lowery, tenor trombone
- Nick Sullivan, bass trombone
- Leanne Regehr, piano

At the 2017 University of Florida International Brass Festival I had the opportunity to perform Anthony DiLorenzo’s Shadow Magic for tenor trombone, bass trombone, and piano with Nathan Zgonc of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Performing alongside Nathan was an incredible opportunity and Anthony’s work is a great addition to the repertoire; however, I believe there is room for more works with this instrumentation. Inspired by that performance, I decided to reach out to James Naigus to compose CCP3. It is my hope that this piece can help augment faculty and guest artist solo recital programs, and serve as a collaboration piece for joint student recitals.

I first encountered James’ music on a joint recital with Paul Basler, Professor of Horn at the University of Florida. Both play Horn and Piano, and are incredible composers, and the recital was a collaboration of accompanying each other on their own compositions. As a new faculty member at UF at the time, it was an overwhelming display of the talent and creativity. James has composed a number of works for all brass instruments including several for multiple brass and piano, which made him an ideal first choice to reach out to. I’ve heard a number of his pieces live over the years and love the uniquely American and melodic qualities they posses. I am extremely enthusiastic about this next collaboration and cannot wait to see what he comes up with.

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Dr. James Naigus is Lecturer of Horn at the University of Georgia and hornist with the Georgia Brass Quintet. He is co-founder of the Cor Moto Horn Duo with Dr. Drew Phillips, and co-editor/contributor of the Creative Hornist and Technique Tips columns in the Horn Call, the journal of the International Horn Society.

He has played with the Wichita Symphony, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony, Orchestra Iowa, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Gainesville Chamber Orchestra, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, and Ocala Symphony Orchestra. He has toured Europe in 2017 & 2014 and South America in 2011 as a member of the American Chamber Winds. He has also performed on recitals at the 2014 MidNorth Horn Workshop, 2013 Midwest Horn Workshop, the 2018 and 2017 Midsouth Horn Workshops, the 2018, 2016, 2014 and 2013 Southeast Horn Workshops, and the 2018, 2015 and 2013 International Horn Symposiums.

As a member of staff at the prestigious Kendall Betts Horn Camp for the last four years, Naigus has designed and taught an aural harmony music theory course. Additional teaching interests include music theory, concert and commercial composition, and film music.

Naigus' compositions have been performed throughout the United States and beyond, with enthusiastic reception and rave review. In 2013 he was the Composer-in-Residence at the Southeast Horn Workshop in Richmond, VA. In 2009 he was awarded an honorable mention award in the International Horn Society Composition Contest. He has written commercial compositions for clients such as Google, University of Michigan, University of Florida, and University of Iowa. He is currently published by RM Williams Publishing and Veritas Musica Publishing.

He is a graduate of the University of Iowa (DMA) studying with Jeffrey Agrell, studied horn and composition with Paul Basler at the University of Florida during his masters degree, and while attending the University of Michigan for his undergraduate degree studied with Soren Hermansson, Bryan Kennedy, and Adam Unsworth. Prior appointments include the University of Central Missouri and the University of Iowa.