Learning to Listen

Learning to Listen 2020-2021

The Curtis Institute of Music Brass Trio: David Schonberger (Bass Trombone), Martina Smith (Horn), and Alan Douglas Tolbert (Trumpet)

Saturday | May 1, 2021 | 2 p.m. | Virtual via Zoom
Free and open to the public.
Click to reserve.

The Curtis Institute Trio will perform in a very open rehearsal, presenting selections from Pergolesi, Poulenc and more. The musicians will appear live via Zoom to talk through the choices and variations they bring to each piece, and answer questions from the audience.

About the Musicians

Alan Douglas Tolbert of Shippensburg, Pa., has established himself as one of the most accomplished young brass players in the U.S. Alan currently studies at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pa., under the tutelage of David Bilger. In May 2020, Alan received his bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance from the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa.. He recently won the position of second trumpet with the York Symphony Orchestra in York, Pa. Along with Alan’s position in the York Symphony, his orchestral career includes substitute trumpet positions with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, as well as the New World Symphony Orchestra and Symphony in C. You can often find Alan enjoying espresso with friends in Rittenhouse Square in downtown Philadelphia.

Hornist Martina Smith is currently a student at the Curtis Institute of Music, studying under Jeffrey Lang and Jennifer Montone. Martina also studied with Jeffrey Lang at Temple University where she received her bachelor of music in horn performance. Martina is a freelancer in the Philadelphia area playing with various chamber groups and orchestras. She has played with Symphony in C and was a substitute player in the Curtis Symphony Orchestra while still a student at Temple University. Martina has worked and taught at the Philadelphia International Music Festival as the assistant orchestra director, chamber coach, and private practice coach. She has also attended other summer festivals such as the Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar, Imani Woodwind Quintet Music Festival, Curtis Summerfest, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Horn Workshop. While in high school she was the principal horn of the All-City Philadelphia Orchestra’s Italy tour. Upcoming: the AIMS festival in Graz, Austria, postponed to summer 2022. Martina teaches privately in the Philadelphia area.

David Schonberger, from El Paso, Texas, entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2018 and studies bass trombone with Blair Bollinger. David is the Susan and Frank Mechura Annual Fellow at Curtis. He has appeared as a soloist with the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra. He has been featured on Interlochen Public Radio and was awarded the Interlochen Young Artist Award. He has performed as a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the U.S. David began playing the trombone at age 11 and previously studied with John Feeny and Thomas Riccobono. In his spare time, he enjoys biking and hiking.

About the Series

The Coleman Sisters Learning to Listen Series was established in memory of Elizabeth Coleman Mooney ’48 and in honor of Susan Norton Coleman ’45, who wanted future generations of students to derive the same great pleasure from music that they did. The Series features virtuosic musicians in a salon-like atmosphere with informative conversation.

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Live In-Person Events Canceled Due to COVID-19

While we continue to advance our students' academic progress, we must do our part to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus: All live, public Bryn Mawr College Arts Program events on the Bryn Mawr and Haverford College campuses have been suspended. 

Our faculty and students continue to create, learn, and grow together in a remote learning environment. We will share any details on virtual experiences, rescheduled dates for canceled events, and events in future seasons, as soon as details are available.

For more information about Bryn Mawr's response, please visit https://www.brynmawr.edu/healthcenter/coronavirus-information-and-updates.

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Learning to Listen 2019-20

• PRISM Quartet 
• Canceled: Dali Quartet
• Canceled: Learning to Listen Bus Trip

Learning to Listen 2018-19

• Vera Quartet
• The Bearded Ladies Cabaret's John Jarboe and Revolution Winds
• Learning to Listen Bus Trip to Philadelphia Orchestra's performance of Beethoven's Eroica

Learning to Listen 2017-18

• The Glory of Venice with The Princeton Singers
• A Very Open Rehearsal of Jean Françaix's Wind Quintet No. 1 with musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music
• Conjuring the Slavic Soul with the Arcadian Trio

Learning to Listen 2016-17

• The Jasper String Quartet in Shostakovich's 110th Birthday Celebration
• What Makes Music Expressive with John Andrew Bailey
• The Brass Project from the Curtis Institute of Music

Learning to Listen 2015-16

• Erik Satie's 150th birthday celebration with Viktor Valkov (piano) and Luosha Fang (violin)
• A Very Open Rehearsal of Beethoven's String Quartet Op. 18 No. 6 in Bb Major with musicians from the Curtis Institute of Music
• Exploring the Sonority of Strings with Christine Lamprea (cello) and Jordan Dodson (guitar)