TRÍÓ - Sapphire Brass
John Kilgore, trumpet Katey Jahnke, horn Eric Millard, basstrumpet
Spectrum: Contemporary Works for Brass Trio
~ Prógram ~
Gina Gillie (b. 1981) Trio (2014) **
I. Fanfare and Corale
II. Lament
III. Tango
James Naigus (b. 1987) Southern Signs (2019) **
John Kilgore (trumpet) Katey Jahnke ( horn) and fixed media electronics (Brett Wyckoff arr. fixed media)
Elín Gunnlaugsdóttir (b. 1965) Gnauð II fyrir málmblásaratríó og rafrás frumflutningur*
Lauren Bernofsky (b. 1967) Trio (2002)
I. Allegro deciso
II. Berceuse
III. Vivo
*world premiere
**International premiere
Program Description:
Spectrum: Contemporary Works for Brass Trio highlights the expressive range and sonic possibilities of the modern brass trio and duo. This program features three contrasting works by living composers that explore a range of textures, moods, and rhythms, from energetic fanfares and intricate counterpoint to rhapsodic passages and lively dance-inspired movements. The incorporation of fixed media electronics in one work adds another layer of sound broadening the ensemble’s sonic spectrum. Together, the program showcases the versatility and expressive capabilities of a small brass ensemble – trumpet, horn, and bass trumpet – within the realm of contemporary chamber music. Gina Gillie’s three-movement Trio for Brass opens with Fanfare and Chorale, featuring energetic dotted rhythms and interwoven melodic lines. The second movement, Lament, uses chained suspensions to convey a sense of introspection, while the lively finale, Tango, brings rhythmic energy and showcases each instrument. The work highlights expressive ranges and dynamic interplay among the instruments. James Naigus’ Southern Signs is a rhapsodic work in three main sections that explores the textural possibilities of trumpet, horn, and fixed media electronics. The use of electronics, combined with a variety of musical colors, resonance, and contrast, create sonic richness, and exemplify a contemporary and innovative approach to brass chamber music. The three movements of Lauren Bernofsky’s Trio for Brass present a traditional fast-slow-fast structure. The outer movements alternate between homophonic sections and more intricate contrapuntal textures, while the middle movement has a lyrical character with clear lines for each instrument. The piece balances complexity with playfulness, highlighting the expressive range and interplay of the ensemble.
Artist and Ensemble Bios:
Trumpeter John Kilgore serves as Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Kansas State University and Principal Trumpet of the Boise Philharmonic. He also performs principal trumpet for Ballet Idaho, the Blue Lake Festival Orchestra, and the KSU Faculty Brass Quintet. As a soloist, Kilgore has been featured with the Salisbury (MD) Symphony Orchestra, the Kansas State University Wind Ensemble, and the Blue Lake Festival Band. Kilgore has been a soloist, chamber musician and research presenter at the 2025 SHE: Festival of Women in music, the 2024 International Trumpet Guild Conference, the 2023 ITG Conference, and the 2022 ITG Conference. He has been a guest artist at University of Missouri Kansas City, The College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, The University of Colorado Boulder, The University of Idaho, and the 2024 Midwest Trumpet Festival. A native of Cleveland, OH, Kilgore earned degrees from Ohio University (BM), the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati (MM), and Florida State University (DM).
Hornist Katey Jahnke’s vibrant personality and passion for music inspire both as a teacher and performer. Residing in Northwest Arkansas, she is currently Assistant Professor of Horn at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. At home on the concert stage, she has performed as a soloist, orchestral musician, and chamber musician throughout the world. In the recent years she has performed in Bangkok, Thailand with the Lyrique Quintette, as principal horn in the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, and as a soloist for the International Women’s Brass Conference. She is currently the horn player and Executive Director of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Wild Prairie Winds, which was internationally recognized in 2020 when awarded the top prize in the Gates of Hope Chamber Competition and again in 2024 when awarded 1st Prize in the Kings Peak International Competition. An advocate for female equality in the music community, Dr. Jahnke is the Treasurer for the International Alliance for Women in Music and has been a professional mentor for the International Women in Brass. She received her Doctorate in Musical Arts in Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Iowa under the direction of Jeffrey Agrell. Her previous schools include Ohio State University, Bowling Green State University, and the University of Michigan.
Eric Millard is the Associate Professor of Trumpet at UNC Charlotte and principal trumpet of the South Carolina Philharmonic. He has performed with the Charlotte Symphony, Asheville Symphony, Opera Carolina, Boise Philharmonic, and the Tallahassee Symphony, among others. Millard is a founding member of Palisade Trumpet Collective, leading commissions and recording projects of numerous new works for trumpet ensemble. As a soloist, Millard has won prizes at competitions such as the International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition, National Trumpet Competition, the American Prize, and more. Millard received his doctorate and master’s degrees in trumpet performance from Florida State University and a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Kentucky. Millard’s primary instructors were Dr. Christopher Moore, Vince DiMartino, Robert Sullivan, Mark Clodfelter, and Dr. William Stowman. Dr. Millard serves as the Rules Coordinator for the National Trumpet Competition and as the Book Reviews Column Editor for the ITG Journal.
Sapphire Brass is a contemporary brass trio comprised of university brass professors from across the United States. Dr. John Kilgore (trumpet), Dr. Katey Jahnke (horn), and Dr. Eric Millard (bass trumpet trumpet) formed the ensemble to promote contemporary brass chamber music and create a space for new voices in the genre. In addition to giving recitals around the country, Sapphire’s ability to play “sensitively” (ITG Journal, October 2024) has earned them invitations to perform at conferences such as the International Trumpet Guild Conference and the SHE: Festival of Women in Music. The ensemble has proudly commissioned and premiered new works and continues to explore the versatility of brass chamber music through their programming.