The Thomas Jefferson Garden’s board promises a wonderful musical experience Saturday, Aug. 7, in the Gardens’ Rotary pavilion. Professional musicians who are members of the Van Gilder family visiting Jefferson from their homes in Colorado will perform a free concert at 5 pm. Ryan Van Gilder will perform on several trombones. Brightin Rose Schlumpf (wife of Scott Van Gilder) will perform on viola.
Dr Ryan Van Gilder is an artist in residence of trombone and assistant director of bands at Colorado State University-Pueblo. His duties include teaching applied trombone lessons, directing Jazz Ensemble I and II, teaching a brass techniques course, and assisting with the marching band and the Festival of Winds. He holds his undergraduate degree from the University of Iowa and masters and doctorate degrees from the University of Colorado.
An active trombonist, Van Gilder performs with the Colorado Symphony and regularly as principal trombone of the Pikes Peak Brass Band and Boulder Chamber Orchestra as well as playing with many other groups around the state. He has also performed with jazz musicians John Fedchock, Bob Mintzer, Kenny Wheeler, and Paul McKee.
As a private instructor, Van Gilder has worked with schools and honor bands throughout the state of Colorado. His students have been selected to the All-State bands and orchestras as well as local honor bands and jazz festivals. During his high school years in Jefferson, Ryan was a member of the Des Moines Symphony Youth Philharmonic and travelled Iowa for two summers with the Luther College Celebration Iowa Singers and Jazz Band. He is a 2001 Jefferson-Scranton graduate.
Originally from Vashon Island, WA, Brightin Rose Schlumpf began her studies in Suzuki violin at the age of 6. From then on, she continued her studies in Houston and Philadelphia. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude in music at Cornell University.
Following the completion of her first Master’s of Music in violin and viola performance from Longy School of Music at Bard College in Cambridge, MA, she accepted the opportunity to move to Colorado, pursue graduate viola studies as a teaching assistant, and was the recipient of the Gabor Ormai viola prize at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Schlumpf taught as faculty at the University of Colorado Summer Music Academy and as a teaching artist for El Sistema Colorado.
Schlumpf performs all over the state of Colorado along as a member of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. She has performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater with Yo Yo Ma, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Weird Al Jankovich, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
As a teacher, she maintains an active private violin and viola studio in Golden and Boulder, CO, in addition to teaching students worldwide through the new violin app, Trala and through her online presence, BrightinRoseStrings. She also served as orchestra and violin/viola faculty at Boulder Valley Waldorf School in Niwot, CO.
These two professional musicians will perform a variety of genres, including classical, jazz, folk and a special duet where the trombone plays the part of a cello concluding the concert.
There will be a free will donation as this concert is a fundraising effort to keep the Thomas Jefferson Gardens and the Welcome Center looking beautiful. Light refreshments will be served in the Gardens. Limited seating will be available. Bringing a lawn chair is recommended. Rain location will be the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson.
