That's Not Spit, It's Condensation!

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#191: Victor Djonorh - What Middle School Band Directors Really Do (And Why It Matters) Jul 16, 2025

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In this episode of That's Not Spit, It's Condensation, I sit down with Victor Djonorh, longtime band director at Summit Middle School and assistant director at Edmond Santa Fe, to dive deep into the realities of teaching music at the middle and high school level.

We cover:
🎵 How he accidentally became a tuba player
🎓 Lessons from his time at Oklahoma City University
👨‍🏫 What he wishes he knew as a first-year teacher
💡 How he keeps students engaged (and why relationships are everything)
📈 The balance between high standards and student well-being
🎺 Why modeling on your instrument matters more than you think
🧠 How he stays inspired through burnout and busy seasons

Whether you're a music educator, band director, or just curious about how great teachers make a difference, this episode is full of insight, humor, and practical wisdom.

🎙️ Subscribe for more deep dives into the world of music and education.

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#190: Johanna Yarbrough - From Orchestral Challenges to Teaching with Impact Jul 02, 2025

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In this episode, I’m joined by Johanna Yarbrough, who recently transitioned from her role as second horn with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to become the Professor of French Horn at Louisiana State University. What begins as a conversation about career trajectory quickly unfolds into a vulnerable and deeply insightful look at the realities of orchestral life—and what it means to grow beyond it.
Johanna shares her early path through public school band, studying abroad in Norway with Frøydis Ree Wekre, and winning the DSO job straight out of Colburn. But we go far beyond the résumé. We dig into:
The hidden toll of orchestral pressure on mental health
How her identity became entangled with achievement
Learning to separate musical excellence from personal worth
The challenges of orchestra culture, groupthink, and navigating difficult personalities
What she now sees as her mission: helping students become not just better players, but better people
From beta blockers and burnout to purpose and pedagogy, this episode explores the messy, human side of a music career. Whether you’re an aspiring orchestral musician, a college student, or a seasoned player wondering “what’s next,” Johanna’s story will hit home.Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

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#189: Is Vennture the Future of Mouthpiece Design for Trumpet Players? | Doug McVey Jun 18, 2025

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Doug McVey is the founder of Vennture mouthpieces. He guides the technical direction of Vennture, oversees the development of VennCAD, and designs the tooling and processes used to produce Vennture custom mouthpieces.

www.vennture.mp

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#188: How to Teach Trumpet: Lessons from 30+ Years of Experience Jun 04, 2025

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Michael Anderson is the recently retired Professor of Trumpet at the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild Board of Directors and ITG Journal editorial committee, Executive Director of the Guild’s web site, and chairman of the ITG technology committee. He is the ITG Journal columnist for Trumpet Technology and has presented and performed at several ITG Conferences. Previously to his OCU appointment, he was on the music faculty of Dana College in Blair, Nebraska.
Anderson was project manager of the ITG Journal anniversary CD-ROM, distributed to guild members in 2001 and is currently working on a DVD of all Journal articles and music supplements for the membership to be released in 2008. He founded and administrates the Trumpet Players’ International Network (TPIN), the oldest and most active Internet discussion list dedicated to the trumpet.
His degrees are from Illinois State University (BM), and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (MM). Primary teachers have been Dennis Schneider, Herbert Koerselman, and Arnold Jacobs. During his 2003 sabbatical, Anderson observed and studied with master teachers including Bill Adam, Vincent DiMartino, Ronald Romm, Michael Ewald, Karl Sievers, and William Pfund.
Anderson is a tenured member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Lyric Theater Orchestra and the New Covenant Methodist Church Band. He performs regularly as a duo with Oklahoma City University Organist Timothy Olsen. He was a member of the Lincoln (Nebraska) Symphony Orchestra for 21 years, and performed often with the Omaha Symphony and Opera Omaha. He was a founding member of the Omaha Brass Ensemble, and the Nebraska Brass, and was a member of the Palladium Brass Quintet. He was musical director for the Omaha Big Band and the Omaha Jazz Youth Project. He is an active freelance trumpeter, and has played for countless national tours; recording sessions; and jazz, orchestra and chamber music events.

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#187: Sound, Self-Belief, and the Path to Trumpet Mastery | Karl Sievers May 20, 2025

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Karl Sievers grew up in Louisville, KY. His teachers include Leon Rapier, former principal trumpet in the Louisville Orchestra; Louis Davidson, former principal trumpet in the Cleveland Orchestra; William Adam at Indiana University; and others. Karl holds a DMA in Trumpet Performance, is in his 24th season as principal trumpet in the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and has recently retired from a Presidential Professorship at the School of Music at the University of Oklahoma. In addition to his orchestral work, he plays lead trumpet in jazz, commercial, and Broadway show venues. His passions outside of music include fitness, motorcycles, fishing, and family.

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#186: What It Really Takes To Win A Top Opera Job (Trombone Edition) | Will Baker May 07, 2025

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William A. Baker, was appointed Bass Trombonist of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra in 2024 by Music Director Enrique Mazzola. He also currently serves as the Principal Bass Trombonist of the Monterey Symphony, a post he has held since 2018. From 2021-2024, Will primarily performed with the San Francisco Symphony, including over 200 performances, and European Tour, and the 2023 SFS recordings with Maestro EsaPekka Salonen.

A native of Walnut Creek, California, Will has performed with the San Francisco Opera and Ballet, the Detroit Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Alabama Symphony, and Malaysian Philharmonic.

Will began his professional career in Iowa, performing as the tenured member of Orchestra Iowa from 2013-17 and the Des Moines Symphony since 2014-18. In 2016, while artist in residence with the Southeast Iowa Symphony (SEISO), Will commissioned and premiered a new bass trombone concerto by composer Robert Tindle titled At Sixty Miles An Hour. In 2018, Will premiered the Wind Ensemble arrangement with Travis Cross and the UCLA Wind Ensemble.

Will graduated Cum Laude from UCLA with a BA in music performance, studying Euphonium and Bass Trombone with Patrick Sheridan. He then earned a Masters Degree in Bass Trombone performance at Northwestern University where he studied with Michael Mulcahy, Randall Hawes, Peter Ellefson, and Tim Higgins. After school, Will continued his studies with Kyle Covington of the San Diego Symphony, and all the members of the San Francisco Symphony brass section.

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#185: Writing An Etude Book and the Benefits Of Brass Band On Trumpet Playing | Jen Oliverio Apr 23, 2025

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Dr. Jennifer Oliverio is a celebrated cornet and flugelhorn player who holds the positions of principal cornet with the Fountain City Brass Band and flugelhorn with the Athena Brass Band. Jen is currently the Assistant Professor of Music in trumpet at Missouri Western State University and one of the directors for the Fountain City Youth Brass Academy.

Jen is an avid supporter of new music for cornet and flugelhorn, having commissioned and premiered solo works by Lucy Pankhurst, Dorothy Gates, Kevin Day, Andrea Hobson, Jen Mitchell, and Joel Collier for her premiere solo album Enigma. Her work on Enigma received overwhelmingly positive reviews and was nominated for the 4barsrest Album of the Year, a silver medal in the Global Music Awards, and winner of the 2023 American Prize in brass performance. Jen has served on the board of directors for the Fountain City Brass Band, the Athena Brass Band, the Visionary Panel for the National Youth Brass Band of America, and currently as the column editor for the International Trumpet Guild’s cornet column.

As a clinician, Jen regularly performs and presents at national and international festivals including: the International Trumpet Guild Conference, Brass Institutes of America, International Women’s Brass Conference, PRIZM Chamber Music Festival, and the Eastman Summer Trumpet Institute. In her freelance work, Jen has performed as an extra with the Kansas City Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Alabama Symphony and is a founding member of the Trilogy Brass Trio.

As a teacher, Jen has had students accepted as semi-finalists in the National Trumpet Competition, semi-finalists for the International Trumpet Guild solo competitions, and as winners in the North American Brass Band Championships solo and ensemble competitions.

Jen is proud mother to son Ben and wife to husband Patrick.

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#184: Preparing For Solo Competitions and Handling Failure | Grace O'Connell Apr 09, 2025

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Grace O’Connell is a highly diverse musician with equal passions for soloing, orchestral playing, and chamber music. Grace frequently plays in the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and Huntsville Symphony Orchestra trumpet sections and is also a dynamic soloist and active competitor in national and international competitions. Most recently she was named first place winner of the Roger Voisin Memorial Trumpet Competition (2024). She was also named first place winner in the International Trumpet Guild Solo Division (2023), MTNA Young Artist Solo Division (2022), as well as the National Trumpet Competition Undergraduate Division (2022). She has been a featured soloist with the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band, and Middle Tennessee Sinfonietta. In 2021 and 2023, Grace was the recipient of two separate URECA Grants from MTSU, aiding her in completing several solo trumpet recordings for digital release which are available on various music streaming platforms.

She is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree from Yale University and holds a Bachelor of Music from Middle Tennessee State University. Her primary teachers include John Aley, Michael Arndt, and Kevin Cobb.

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#183: Building the Upper Register and How To Win An Audition | Chris Smith Mar 26, 2025

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Christopher Smith brings nearly 20 years of major orchestral and ensemble experience to the role of Principal Trumpet of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Prior to joining the SDSO, he was 4th/Utility Trumpet with l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) for 11 years, and served as Acting Associate Principal Trumpet from 2015-18. He has performed with OSM on eight international tours (two as Associate Principal Trumpet), numerous live broadcasts on Mezzo TV and Medici.tv (several as Principal Trumpet), and five recordings, including as lead trumpet on MIKA et l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.

Prior to joining OSM in 2008, Mr. Smith performed for eight years in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, one of the world’s finest wind ensembles and America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. The Marine Band’s mission is to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, performing at The White House for The Presidential Inauguration, events of national importance, holidays and ceremonies. Members of The Marine Band also participate in state funerals and full honors funerals at Arlington National Cemetery, including live trumpet performances of “Taps” on national television, which Mr. Smith provided on numerous occasions. He also performed on five U.S. tours totaling over 40 concerts and, as an E-7 Gunnery Sergeant, supervised and mentored junior Marines. Mr. Smith also led small ensembles and was a co-founder of the Valor Brass quintet, which performed two tours and over 10 recitals, including a standing-room-only recital at The Midwest Clinic in Chicago. As a decorated veteran of the Marine Corps, Mr. Smith is a strong supporter of the United States military and is thrilled to connect as a member of the SDSO with the military community in the greater San Diego area.

In addition to his tenured roles in OSM and The United States Marine Band, Christopher Smith has served as Associate Principal Trumpet in the Seattle Symphony (2011-12 season), Acting Principal Trumpet in the Pacific Northwest Ballet (2017-18) and 2nd Trumpet with the Des Moines Metro Opera (2010-11). He has also performed as Guest Principal Trumpet with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Grand Rapids Symphony; lead trumpet with the singer MIKA; guest performer with the group Pink Martini. He has taught as an adjunct instructor at McGill University, led over 30 masterclasses throughout North and South America and privately coached both professional and collegiate trumpet players.

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#182: My Experience Auditioning for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Mar 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we're talking about my experience auditioning for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. We'll cover how I prepared, what I did differently, what I learned, the rounds themselves, and my thoughts on the outcome.

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