Published December 17, 2014
The Black Bayou Brass trio—the resident faculty brass ensemble in the School of Visual
and Performing Arts (VAPA) at the University of Louisiana at Monroe—has been invited
to perform at the Big XII Area Universities Trombone Conference, held on the campus
of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, in January.
The trio is composed of VAPA faculty Dr. Aaron Witek (trumpet); Dr. James Boldin (horn);
and Dr. James Layfield (trombone).
Black Bayou Brass, from left: Witek, Boldin, and Layfield
“This will be the second time we’ve performed at this major regional conference,”
says Boldin. “We are honored to represent the School of Visual and Performing Arts,
and the university.”
The group will perform a program of new and under-recognized compositions for brass
trio, selections from which will be featured on a recording project to be completed
in the spring of 2015.
The trio will also perform a guest recital and present master classes at Ouachita
Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., on Feb. 19, 2015.
Boldin earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Appalachian State University, and both
a Master of Music degree and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
Layfield obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory from the University of
Texas at Arlington, a Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from Southern
Methodist University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan.
Witek earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the State University of New York, and
a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Florida State University.
