City College’s Trombone Choir cheers the American spirit as we head into election week.

Saturday, Oct. 26 marked the third Trombone Choir performance of the program’s history, with a bit of a patriotic twist. Choir director, Eric Heidner, wanted to bring some politically neutral and enjoyable American music to the community. 

“We wanted to play stuff that brought people together and not pull them apart, as we’ve seen so much in politics lately,” Heidner said. “Everybody gets together to enjoy this kind of stuff. How can you not enjoy this great American music?” 

The choir opened their first set with the classic Star Spangled Banner, immediately lifting the audience’s presence. Following the national anthem, a medley inspired by Captain America movies was performed. This brought lots of excitement to the younger audience as the vibrations rang throughout the theater, and the songs reminded them of superheroes. 

Moments after the choir finished their piece, directors Stephen Hughes, and Eric Heidner joined fellow quartet members Michael Dolin, and Lisa Price in a tribute to composer George Gershwin. This included a medley celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s famous Rhapsody in Blue and several other Gershwin tunes.

The quartet swiftly became an octet. Choir members Paul Gaddis, David Marx, Joseph Alex Reyes, and Bethany Hobart joined the four in a performance where the modern trombone octet was presented, including the pieces Eight Position and Inside Joke. The trombones had seven positions on their slides, giving the crowd several different vibrations. 

With a brief change in motion, Santa Barbara’s Junior Trombone Choir took the stage as band director at La Colina Junior High School, Hughes led the audience through a western music scene. Hughes, who has been writing tunes for his students, shares a deep passion for wind instruments and invites students of all ages and skill levels to join the Junior Trombone Choir. 

“The junior choir program is intended for people who are beginning the trombone, or kind of like a learning stage,” Hughes’ said. 

The choir performed a total of four songs which included, Cattle Rustlin, Campfire Song, and Ridin’ the Range before ending the set with Hoe-down at the Town Square.

Composer Cody Anderson was introduced and acknowledged for arranging a sackbut octet. A sackbut is an early form of the trombone that was commonly used in Renaissance and Baroque-era church choirs.

 An old folk song, Simple Gifts, was performed in an alternative version. Anderson went on to explain to the audience how this song is an example of how early colonists used shapes to represent musical notes. 

Upon conclusion of the concert, City College’s Trombone Choir made one last appearance for the night. Thanking the audience for attending, encouraging the importance of community and the joy of playing music together, composer Cody Anderson led a performance of the medley 76 Trombones with a huge variety of musical styles in one artistic piece before playing the final performance of The Stars and Stripes Forever.