Blair Castle, the 2009 recipient of the Grissom/Rosolino Trombone Scholarship and Swedish trombone virtuoso Håkan Björkman hanging out at the 2009 International Trombone Festival in Aarhus, Denmark.

Blair Castle attends 2009 ITF on a Grissom/Rosolino Scholarship

Eugene Grissom passed away on April 3rd, 2009 after a long struggle with Parkinson's Syndrome. He has been a wonderful friend and patron of the UF Trombone Studio for almost 30 years, donating $200 each year for the purchase of trombone recordings and scores for the music library and, most recently, initiating and sponsoring the annual Grissom/Rosolino Scholarship to support a UF trombone student attending an international trombone conference.  Professor Emeritus Grissom was a visual artist and the former chairman of the UF Department of Art and Art History. He actually majored in trombone performance as an undergraduate and he played professionally for a number of years. He had a personal friendship with Frank Rosolino, Carl Fontana, and many other great trombone jazz artists.

On the day that he died, his wife Nancy attended the SOM Awards Convocation where the 2009 award was presented to Blair Castle. She expressed gratitude that she was able to tell Gene about it and about meeting Blair earlier that day. She was at her husband's bedside when he passed away peacefully at about 6 p.m. that evening. Mrs. Grissom looks forward to continue promoting and supporting the Grissom/Rosolino Scholarship in her husband’s memory.

Click here to read the Gainesville Sun obituary.

In Memoriam: Eugene Grissom

Tuba Quartet Launch an “Art Attack” on Turlington Plaza

Oct. 14, 2009. (l to r) Tubists Valmer Huhn,  Zach Gouz and euphoniumists Robert Padilla and Sam Polatsek looking smug as they are about to launch an “Art Attack” on an unsuspecting Turlington Plaza crowd. Several minutes of beautiful tuba music was all it took to make everyone feel better. The event was part of the pre-Homecoming activities going on throughout the campus.

U.S. Air Force Brass Quintet Performs at UF School of Music

Nov. 17, 2009. The USAF Brass Quintet from Robins Air Force Base played a superb concert of “old and new” works brass quintet. Earlier in the day they gave a master class and worked with a UF student brass quintet on the 1st Quintet of Victor Ewald. Click on picture for more photos.

UF Low Brass Players Featured on School of Music Convocation Recital

Friday’s School of Music Convocation Recital of Nov. 20 featured performances of John Steven’s Triangles and Trois Chansons of Claude Debussy.  Triangles was performed by Blair Castle, trombone; Valmer Huhn, tuba; and Jonathan Moore, horn. The trombone quartet performing the Debussy featured Erik Augereau, Katie Reed, Michael Eichner, and Blair Castle. You can hear their spirited performance of Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain on the following video.

James Jenkins performed with the Cleveland Orchestra in Severance Hall on November 19, 20 and 21. Jenkins was called in to provide a solid bottom to the expanded low brass section for a performance of Richard Strauss’ epic tone poem, Also Sprach Zarathustra. Jenkins is pictured with the Cleveland Orchestra’s principal tubist, Yasuhito Sugiyama in Severance Hall.

Professor Jenkins Performs with Cleveland Orchestra