Brass Ensemble Blows Away Country of Latvia
October 22, 2026 - 02:09 PM
One of the oldest and largest brass festivals in the world, the International Trombone Festival, featured only one performance from a community college, and it was Mt. SAC’s very own Brass Ensemble. Why this may be so surprising has to do with where the festival was held: Riga, Latvia.
Student musicians got a unique end-of-summer adventure to the capital of Latvia, an 800-year-old European city. To top it off, they also got to perform on a morning news program.
Karen Marston, director of the Brass Ensemble, said, “The festival was outstanding, and our students had the opportunity to hear some of the world's finest trombone artists.”
“We got to open for Christian Lindberg, one of the best trombone players in history,” said Shalea Smith, French Horn player for the Ensemble.
The student musicians performed their mainstage concert at the international event, and it can be watched below.
Marston could not have been happier with the performance explaining, “that the concert hall was nearly 95 degrees Fahrenheit, as Latvian buildings do not have air conditioning, and we were there during an intense heat wave. The Ensemble rose to the occasion and delivered an outstanding program.”
The Ensemble was also featured on the Latvian television program Rīta Panorāma, where they performed during a live broadcast. Watch that here (Click “Pienemt visus” to accept all cookies to view).
The Ensemble were interns at the Trombone Festival, as well, working directly with the world-class artists, educators, and music industry leaders.
“To perform across the world is going to stay with me for the rest of my life,” said Jeffrey Fratzke, Bass Trombone player. “All the classroom experience cannot encapsulate what one week spent across the world with these people can do.”
Marston said that departments across campus, “kicked in to help fund our trip. This was an extraordinary, life-changing opportunity for these students.”
Photos supplied by Karen Marston
