Two Pieces for Three Trombones, I. Felicity by Raymond Premru

Performed by The Troubled Euphs

The first of two movements in Raymond Premru's Two Pieces for Trombones, "Felicity" is a beautiful and sensitive composition that features a gorgeous melody in the lead voice and lush harmonies and supporting lines in the other two voices. Although, originally written for three trombones, "Felicity" works wonderfully when performed by a euphonium trio given the warm timbre of the instrument.

Two Pieces for Three Trombones, I. Felicity - Raymond Premru

A native Michigander whose music has been described as "high energy", "innovative" and "very thoughtful and concise" (International Tuba and Euphonium Association), Dr. Ian Lester (b. 1994) is an award-winning composer, euphonium player, and teacher holding a Doctorate degree in euphonium performance and Master’s degree in composition from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, where he also previously received his Master's degree in euphonium performance. Ian received his Bachelor’s degree in euphonium performance and pursued additional composition studies at Oakland University in Michigan. Ian’s works have been performed and recorded by soloists, chamber ensembles, wind bands, and brass bands at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Fort Myer, and many universities and recital halls around the world. Notable achievements include winning the 2016 U.S. Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Composition Competition, receiving the 2018 Oakland University's Outstanding Student in Composition award, winning the 2018 North Texas Euphonium Quartet Composition Competition, the 2021 Mirari Brass Quintet Call for Scores, and the 2022 UMKC Composition Competition, being selected to attend the 2021 Julius String Quartet EMERGE Solstice Composition Workshop, along with winning both the inaugural 2023 North Texas I.T.E.A. Chapter Composition Competition and the 2023 I.T.E.A. R. Winston Morris Award for excellence in tuba/euphonium ensemble composition.

The Troubled Euphs is a euphonium trio founded in 2021 by Drew Leslie, Dr. Ian Lester, and Jared Sherman, all students at the University of Missouri – Kansas City at the time of the ensemble’s inception. The trio's objective is to commission, promote, and perform new repertoire for euphonium trio and demonstrate the unique strengths and capabilities of their instrumentation. Within the first two and a half years of their existence, the trio has commissioned ten new works for the medium, several of which were composed by local Kansas City-area composers. The trio has been recognized for their talents and musicianship, earning a 4th place finish at the North American Brass Band Association chamber ensemble competition, and being invited as semi-finalists for the small ensemble competition at the 2023 International Tuba Euphonium Conference in Tempe, Arizona, where they received 4th place. Most recently, the Troubled Euphs have been invited to perform at the South Central Regional Tuba Euphonium conference at the University of Memphis as well as the Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference at Middle Tennessee State University.