TSO musicians have not slowed down this summer following the culmination of the 97th season in May. Several of our musicians came together once again to teach the week-long Tucson Brass Workshop. Led by TSO trumpet player Betsy Bright, the program brings together people of all ages to play primarily chamber music.
“We have to share in our artistic vision and really learn to collaborate as a team, which is a great skill for all musicians—and people, really,” Bright said following one of the workshop’s afternoon recitals. “I think our youngest is in fifth grade, but we also have a lot of retired people as well. It’s a lot of fun to collaborate across generations and all ability levels – it’s a fun week!”
Bright is one of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra’s strongest education ambassadors. In addition to performing as part of the brass ensemble during school visits throughout the season, she is also an instructor in TSO’s Young Composers Project. A skilled arranger, Bright also develops much of the programming for our annual Just for Kids concerts.
“It’s so important to train the next wave of people [musicians], both in terms of future professional players but also to make music a part of every day lives, no matter what they plan to do with it. We have people in their 60s learning to play for the first time. It’s so good for everybody’s brain, but it’s also a lot of fun.”
Trevor Barraero joined the workshop once again to lead the percussion portion for the third consecutive year. For Barroero, serving as TSO’s Principal Percussionist is about more than performing on stage, it’s also about investing in the next generation of musicians. Having grown up in Tucson himself, he understands firsthand the impact that access to quality music education can have on a young person’s life.
“After I won the audition in 2022 to be the principal percussionist for the TSO, I knew my primary goal, alongside playing with the orchestra, was to give back to this community,” he said. “I was fortunate to start taking drum lessons here when I was 9 years old, and I had a lot of opportunities thanks to my mother, who enrolled me in programs like the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra.”
Barroero saw a need for more opportunities specifically geared toward percussion students. While many young musicians gain valuable experience through marching band and drumline programs, he wanted to help create a space where students could also develop chamber music and ensemble skills.
“Playing on the field with the marching band is super important, but it’s also important to play chamber music,” Barroero said. “Here, students get the opportunity to perform in percussion ensembles, play alongside brass musicians, and observe our professional brass musicians giving recitals every day.”
Now in its third year of offering a percussion component, the Tucson Brass Workshop continues to grow. This summer, seven percussion students participated in the program, including two interns working directly with Barroero. As the workshop expands in the coming years, he hopes it will continue providing young musicians with opportunities to explore new musical experiences and build skills that will serve them throughout their musical journeys.
The Tucson Symphony Orchestra is proud to see its musicians sharing their talents and expertise beyond the concert hall. Through programs like the Tucson Brass Workshop, TSO musicians continue to strengthen the cultural fabric of our community, inspiring the next generation of artists and ensuring that music education remains accessible to learners of all ages.