Heard all across the globe, from Munich to Montreal, trombonist Ron Barron will perform in Studzinski Recital Hall on Friday night.
Barron was the principal trombonist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) from 1975 until his retirement last August. He has performed with numerous brass ensembles as well as with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian State Radio Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and the American Wind Symphony.
In 1974, just before joining the BSO, Barron won the most prestigious prize awarded at the Munich International Competition. He also received the 2005 ITA Award from the International Trombone Association in recognition of his distinguished career and in acknowledgement of his impact on the world of trombone performance.
Barron currently teaches at the New England Conservatory of Music and the Tanglewood Music Center.
Although Mr. Barron's program on Friday won't be accompanied by a 100-person orchestra, he will be performing with Bridget Convey, a pianist renowned for her ability to perform music of diverse periods and styles.
Convey, originally from New York, has performed as both a soloist and an ensemble musician throughout the United States over the course of her career. She has performed at well-known venues including New York's Lincoln Center and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.
After finishing her Masters at the California Institute of the Arts, she founded, directed, and played in "ensemble GREEN," an 11 piece ensemble.
Although this will be Ron Barron's first time performing at Bowdoin, Convey has appeared here twice before as a guest artist: once in the spring of 2003, and again in the fall of 2006.
On Friday, Barron and Convey will perform a program of American music, including works written specifically for Barron by composers Eric Ewazen, Norman Bolter, and Larry Wolfe, as well as works by Charles Ives and Herbert Clarke.
While his performance on Friday headlines Barron's visit, it will not be his only appearance of the weekend. On Sunday, he will appear again with the Bowdoin College Concert Band in the second installment of their theme of the season: "Friends." Barron will perform during three of the eight pieces in the concert.
Barron and Convey perform on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Kanbar Auditorium in Studzinski Recital Hall. Barron's performance with the Bowdoin College Concert Band is on Sunday at 2 p.m., also in Studzinski. Both concerts are free and open to the public.