After the Last Jury for Gail Wilson

May 13, 2009 by John Ericson 1542No comments yet...http://hornmatters.com/2009/05/the-end-of-an-era-2/After+the+Last+Jury+for+Gail+Wilson2009-05-13+12%3A23%3A21John+Ericson

With graduation today at Arizona State University the big news is President Obama giving the commencement address outdoors at Sun Devil stadium in near 100 degree weather! But for me professionally the big event will be the fine arts convocation on Thursday, as an era will formally end and a new one begins. Professor Gail Wilson will retire after 36 distinguished years as the trombone professor and chair of the brass department at Arizona State. This photo was taken after the last brass jury of the year; I am standing in the back with tuba Professor Sam Pilafian on the left and trumpet Professor David Hickman on the right. Congratulations to Professor Wilson and best wishes as he goes forward. I will take over as brass area coordinator and in the fall we will welcome Ralph Sauer to the ASU brass faculty, former Principal Trombone of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.