SUNSET CITY, for trumpet and percussion

Dr. Chris Probst

Dr. Matthew Jordan

Join Chris Probst and Matt Jordan in commissioning a new work, entitled Sunset City, for trumpet and percussion from John Hennecken. The sunset-related inspirations for the work are both secular and sacred: they include John Sloan’s painting, “West Twenty-third street,” and selected prayers of Catholic Vespers (evening prayer).

Score and parts will be delivered after the world premiere in Spring 2024. The piece will be 8-12 minutes long. Trumpet part will include flugelhorn; percussion will be a multi-setup with focus on vibraphone. To commit to the consortium, email john.hennecken@gmail.com use the link above. Cost is $50.00 per commissioner, to be paid any time up to receipt of music. $100.00 payment for a full duo can also be made. Names of commissioners will be included in the inside front cover of score.

Composer and Sponsor Bios:

With influences ranging from Mozart to M83, Dr. John Hennecken’s music fuses classical clarity of form and intricate counterpoint with modern approaches to tonality and timbre. His works have been performed in the United States, France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, and Japan by ensembles such as the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra, Longmont Symphony Orchestra, Augusta Symphony, Takarazuka City Symphony Orchestra, Green Bay Civic Symphony, Atlanta Wind Symphony, Wisconsin Wind Orchestra, University of Georgia Wind Symphony, University of Illinois at Chicago Wind Ensemble, Wet Ink, and and the Trombones of the St. Louis Symphony. Select honors and awards include Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Fellowship, Hambidge Center Fellowship, International Tuba-Euphonium Association Harvey Phillips Award Winner, Morton Gould Young Composers Award Finalist, Tribeca New Music Merit Award, and American Prize Finalist. Hennecken’s music is published by Potenza Music and Murphy Music Press.

Dr. Christopher Probst teaches the trumpet studio at Jacksonville State University. He also teaches Class Brass, coaches brass quintets, directs the trumpet ensemble, and assists in the Jazz Studies area.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Christopher Probst graduated from Lebanon Valley College of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in music education and a B.A. in trumpet performance. He received a Master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of Arizona (Tucson) where he studied with Edward Reid. Dr. Probst completed a Master’s degree in jazz studies at Florida International University (Miami) where he studied with Arturo Sandoval, Sam Lussier, and Jim Hacker and completed his Doctorate in trumpet performance at the University of Georgia (Athens), studying with Fred Mills (formerly of the Canadian Brass) and Edward Sandor. In addition to his position at JSU, Dr. Probst teaches clinics, masterclasses, and private lessons throughout the Southeast.

A versatile musician, Dr. Probst has performed and/or recorded with many artists including: Arturo Sandoval, Dave Brubeck, Kevin Mahogany, Joe Alessi, Fred Mills, The Basel Brass Quintet, Belgian Brass Ensemble, Bobby Shew, The Four Tops, Ben Folds, Linda Rondstadt, Bulldog Brass Society, Georgia Brass Ensemble, Miami’s Band Orchestra, Orquesta MaCuba, Macon Symphony, Rome Symphony, The Pieces of Eight, Tucson Pops Orchestra, and the Catalina Chamber Orchestra. He has performed extensively throughout the US, as well as in Mexico, Canada, England, and China.

Dr. Matthew Jordan currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. He is also the front ensemble arranger for Music City Mystique, the music coordinator and sound designer for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, front ensemble arranger and sound designer for the “Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, and a music advisor for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to starting at JSU, Matt was the Concert Percussion Marketing Manager for Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments, and Assistant Director of Bands/Instructor of Percussion at Middle Tennessee State University.

Matt has worked as a percussion instructor and arranger with a number of DCI and WGI groups, including the Phantom Regiment (2011-2014), Carolina Crown (2015), and Spirit of Atlanta (2007-2010, 2018). He is also very involved at the scholastic level as an arranger for indoor drumlines and marching bands, having written for groups such as Max Percussion (Bangkok, Thailand), Bangkok Society Drumline, Franklin High School, Science Hill High School, McGavock High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, and Father Ryan High School, among others.

As a performer, Matt plays regularly with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and has also performed with the Alabama Symphony, Huntsville Symphony, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Intersection Contemporary Music Ensemble, Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, San Angelo Symphony, Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tennessee Philharmonic. While at North Texas, Matt performed with the UNT Wind Symphony, as well as the One o'Clock and Two o'Clock Lab Bands. Matt was the timpanist of The Cavaliers (2003-04) and Music City Mystique (2000-05) and in 2004, he received 1st place in both the DCI and PAS Timpani Individuals competitions. Matt has also been involved in commissioning or premiering works from numerous composers, including Nathan Daughtrey, Dave Hall, Evan Chapman, Caleb Pickering, Russell Wharton, Matt Filosa, Lucas Garner, Bill Hickok, Matt Ridge, and Greg Harrison.

Matt also travels abroad frequently, having performed in Mexico, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, and Japan. In the summer of 2010 he traveled to Ghana in West Africa to study Ewe drumming. Matt's major influences include Dr. John W. Parks IV, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Christopher Deane, Mark Ford, Paul Rennick, Lalo Davila, Erik Johnson, Leigh Howard Stevens, Christopher Norton, John Feddersen, and Bill Wiggins.
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Matt completed the Doctor of Music degree from the Florida State University, a Master's Degree from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor's Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Matt is a proud artist and clinician for Pearl/Adams instruments, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Evans Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, and Presonus Audio Electronics.