Who Is Seven19?
Who Is Seven19?
Trombone and Guitar. Unusual? Yes. Necessary? Most Definitely.
Award-Winning Trombonist Ben McIlwain and International Guitarist Nicholas Ciraldo combine to form Seven19.
The mission of Seven19 is to champion music - new and old - for trombone and guitar. Genres from pop/rock/metal to classical/modern, Seven19 endeavors to expand the musical horizon of this duo combination. Acoustic and electric guitar plus acoustic and electric trombone equal a new and exciting instrumental combination that up until now has been largely ignored if not avoided.
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An avid supporter of modern music, Dr. Ben McIlwain has commissioned and premiered over fifty works for trombone. In 2012, Dr. McIlwain’s chamber ensemble, Tromboteam, raised $10,000 through Kickstarter.com and commissioned nine new works for trombone ensemble, which have been recorded on the group’s first album, Last Lap. Dr. McIlwain has performed recently at the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, Southeast Trombone Symposium, the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, and the International Horn Symposium. Notable past performances include soloing with the U.S. Army Pershing’s Own at the American Trombone Workshop in March 2015. In addition, he is the recipient of the Junior Faculty Creative Activity Award (2013), the College of Arts and Letters’ Junior Faculty of the Year award, the Aubrey Keith Lucas and Ella Ginn Lucas Endowment for Faculty Excellence (2014) and the Nina Bells Suggs Endowed Professorship (2014) from The University of Southern Mississippi. Currently on faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. McIlwain holds degrees from Middle Tennessee State University, Manhattan School of Music, and The Florida State University. Dr. Ben McIlwain is a Performing Artist for S.E. Shires Trombones and released his debut solo album, Indefatigable, with colleagues Ellen Elder and Jackie McIlwain in 2022. This album was named a Global Music Awards winner for Outstanding Achievement (Instrumentalist). The International Trombone Association Journal review of this album states that “McIlwain brings each story to life with a wide range of tone colors, a vast articulation palette, and deliberate technical execution…McIlwain plays with exquisite musical intent; each phrase is crafted to convey maximum sensitivity, and emotion…Indefatigable contains wonderfully artistic performances and stirring compositions and makes the album a strong contribution to the solo trombone genre.” For more information visit his website - www.frettedslide.com.
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Nicholas Ciraldo won awards at the Tredrez-Locquemau, Gaetano Zinetti, GFA, Portland, and MTNA guitar competitions. He now enjoys numerous performances across four continents, playing in such venues as the United States’ Jordan Hall, Germany’s Berliner Dom, and Brazil’s Teatro José Maria Santos. Ciraldo has released three albums for solo guitar. Soundboard magazine states that Ciraldo’s “performances…are, without reservations, marvelous…with abundant technique and commitment to the music…one of the best….” Allmusic.com defines his playing as “confident…goes right to the heart of the music, with his precise, active, athletic style.” The Baton Rouge Advocate reviews him as “definitely in command….generating a collective gasp of amazement in the audience.” Kansas City’s Journal of the Performing Arts said Ciraldo’s “touch was nimble and delicate...the instrument was a clear extension of the performer….” He is Professor of Music at The University of Southern Mississippi School of Music.