The UCF Trombone Choir recently traveled to Puntarenas, Costa Rica for the 11th edition of the Festival International Trombones de Costa Rica. The festival is hosted by The University of Costa Rica-Pacific Campus and featured resident artist Mr. Toby Oft, principal trombone of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. During the 4-day festival students had opportunities to participate in individual lessons, master classes, chamber music workshops and evening recitals.
At the festival, students experienced one-on-on lessons with Mr. Oft, performed at the UCR-Pacific Campus in the festival and saw the Trombones de Costa Rica perform at the Casa de la Cultura as part of the nightly concert series. The students also got a chance to explore the culture that is Puntarenas through eco-tourism boat tours which included dolphin spotting, walks around San José and morning conversations with the UCR English classes.
Trombones de Costa Rica is a chamber group with an established international trajectory that has been the programming of classical chamber works side by side with arrangements of Latin American music. UCF Assistant professor of trombone, Luis Fred, is a member of the group.