OSM's Paul Merkelo in Austin Texas

For the past 18 years Paul Merkelo has been the principal trumpet of the Orchestra symphonique de Montreal. He is also in great demand as a soloist and teacher. Several weeks ago he did both at the Butler School of Music, part of the University of Texas in Austin. In a busy few days he gave a master class and a recital as well as a number of private classes.

Merkelo was in Austin at the invitation of Ray Sasaki, the professor of trumpet at the school and Paul's first teacher back in Illinois. In our conversation we talk at length about trumpet teachers, trumpet sounds, and the evolving sound of the OSM under Dutoit and Nagano. The interview opens with shots of Maison symphonique, the OSM's new home, and the music is an unusual arrangement of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue as played by Paul at his recital in Austin. The arrangement is by the great Ukrainian trumpet virtuoso Timofei Dokshizer (1921-2005).

For more on Paul Merkelo and the Paul Merkelo Scholarship visit his website at www.paulmerkelo.com.

Paul E. Robinson