By Joey McWilliams
NORMAN – The Pride of Durant took 13 members to the University of Oklahoma on Saturday to attend Trombone Day.
Chris and Leslie Gregg, leaders of the Durant High School band, have been taking students to this event for a number of years.
Trombone Day is a clinic for trombonists and other players of low brass instruments, including baritone, euphonium, tuba and more. It has been hosted by OU and Dr. Irv Wagner for more than three decades. Dr. Wagner is a professor at the university, a founding member of the Oklahoma Brass Quintet and is a member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.
Nearly 100 students were in attendance from Durant, as well as Jenks, Idabel, Perkins-Tryon and other schools in Oklahoma.
The students heard performances from the OU trombone section, the Southwestern Oklahoma State University trombone section and the University of Central Oklahoma jazz band.
The featured artist/clinician of the day was renowned trombone artist/composer, John Fedchock, whose career has spanned more than 35 years. Fedchock, who has played with the Woody Herman Orchestra and is a two-time Grammy nominee, performed for the students and taught about jazz, blues and improvising.
Mr. and Mrs. Gregg also served as clinicians for the event.