White Bear Lake native and senior music education major Nick Mason will present his senior trumpet recital in Björling Recital Hall on Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m. Accompanied by pianist Beth Winterfeldt, Nick will be joined by the members of the Christ Chapel Brass, the Gustavus Brass Choir and Josh Portner, trumpet, for this recital. The recital begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Nick Mason is a senior music education major with honors in performance from White Bear Township, Minnesota. A busy member of the music department, Nick divides his time between many ensembles. He is principal trumpet in the Gustavus Wind Orchestra and Gustavus Symphony Orchestra, lead trumpet in the Gustavus Jazz Lab Band, and plays trumpet in the Christ Chapel Brass Quintet. He is also a percussionist in the Vasa Wind Orchestra. Nick has played the trumpet for eleven years and currently studies as a Jussi Björling Music Scholar with Gustavus professor Dr. Steve Wright. He was recently honored by being named one of three winners in the annual concerto/aria competition and was selected to perform on the Senior Honors Day Recital on May 3. Nick is the son of Mike and Aimee Mason and a 2010 graduate of White Bear Lake High School.
Nick will open his senior recital with Wal-Berg’s Concerto for Trumpet and Eric Ewazen’s Sonata for Trumpet and Piano. He will continue with fellow trumpet Josh Portner to perform Etude “Du Style” by Theophile Charlier. Nick with then move to the front of the stage to conduct the Gustavus Brass Choir in a performance of 2 movements of Vaclav Nelhybel’s Concerto Antifonale followed by Randy Newman’s You’ve Got a Friend. The Christ Chapel Brass Quintet will conclude the recital with the first movement of Frostfire by Eric Ewazen.
Nick Mason’s senior trumpet recital will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Jussi Björling Recital Hall. The public is invited to attend at no charge. A reception will follow the recital in honor of the performing musicians.