Darren George
Contact
Address:
4914 College Avenue
Lacombe, AB T4L 1Z2
Telephone:
403-782-4885
e-mail:
dgeorge@rttinc.com
Position: 1st
Occupation: Professor of Psychology at Canadian University College
Trombone: 1938 Buescher custom build Aristocrat, .495 upper slide shank, .510 lower slide shank, no F attachment, acquired by my mother in 1961 for $110. It has been refinished twice since the purchase. The inner bell is currently 24 karat gold plate. The instrument is somewhat heavier metal than modern trombones resulting in a slightly more mellow tone. The mouthpiece is a Stork Custom #5.
Groups:
*
Pacific Union College (CA) Band and Brass Ensemble, 1970s;
* Napa (CA) Symphony Orchestra, 1970s;
*
Vallejo (CA) Symphony Orchestra, 1970s ;
*
Los Angeles Lakers Pep Band, 1980s;
*
Canadian University College Silverwinds, current;
*
Lacombe Community Jazz Band, current;
*
Ritchie Trombone Choir, current
Teachers: Miss Ripell (don’t know her first name, a fabulous teacher in 5th and 6th grade) Carlyle Manous (Pacific Union College) John McPherson (ESO principal trombone), current
Influences: Bill Pearce for his soaring gorgeous high range. John McPherson for his technical genius, Malcolm Forsyth for his obsession with excellence, Johannes Rochut for his melodic stylings, Vladimir Blashavich for sight reading and fluency in tenor and alto clefs, Allen Vazzutti for range and tonguing.
Bio: I first played trombone when in the fifth grade under the tutelage of Miss Ripell. By 6th grade she was hauling me around playing solos at various locations. I have no idea how good I was but still have some of the pieces I played. The favorite was a piece called The Grenedier, a military style piece that went up to high B flat and down to the peddle B flat. My dad played trombone and was a major inspiration in my pursuit of the instrument. I played in bands through junior high, high school, College, but after graduation, for a 20 year stretch, played only occasionally. Upon being hired at CUC (1993) I joined their Silverwinds band and continue to play with them. In 2001 my wife Elizabeth started the conversation that made all the difference. She: “You want to play that thing [trombone] good?” me (slightly offended) “I already play pretty good.” She: “You want to play that thing good?” me (more offended) “I already play pretty good.” She “You want to play that thing good?” I understood. I joined the Ritchie Trombone Choir and a year later begin to take lessons from John McPherson. The lessons continue. I currently play the best I ever have and plan to get a lot better.