International trumpetist, Graham Ashton, gives the world premiere of Roger Steptoe's new Sonata for trumpet and organ in the National Cathedral, Washington DC, on 25th January 2009. Distinguished young Washington Cathedral organist, Christopher Jacobson, will also play Louis Vierne's 'Gargouilles et Chimere' and Edward Bairstow's Sonata for organ. Steptoe's new work will later be heard in New York City, on a national French tour and will be recorded for Signum Classics. Graham Ashton is Professor of trumpet and Chair of Brass at Purchase College, State University of New York. Of Steptoe's new sonata, he says: "Roger Steptoe is such a skillful composer who knows exactly how to write for all the brass instruments. I premiered Roger’s first brass quintet, 'Triptych', when we were both students at the Royal Academy of Music; it’s an honor to have him compose for me again some 30 years later. I guess we’ve both done quite a lot in that time." Cast in four contrasting movements, the first, entitled 'Bells' is festive with much inter-play between trumpet and organ. The second, a sleek scherzo, is called 'Pipes' and features fanfare-like trumpet calls over a constantly-changing luxuriant bed of pulsating harmonies. The third, 'Hymn to a better world', is a 'vocalise' for trumpet with an ostinato-type, harmonic accompaniment. The final movement recalls the festivities of the first and brings the Sonata to an energetic and jubilant end. British composer, Roger Steptoe is considered as one of the most respected musicians of his generation. Currently living in the medieval hill-top town of Uzerche in the centre of France, and from where he works, he has carved for himself an enviable reputation with regular performances of his music worldwide. Several key works are available on CD, namely the recent Sinfonietta for organ and strings recorded by Olivier Latry on the organ of Notre-Dame, Paris, the 1982 Oboe Concerto with Nora Cismondi, principal with the Orchestre National de France, and the Seven Miniatures for piano trio played by the award-winning, young French piano trio, Trio Magellan. In 2006, the eminent Scottish tubist, James Gourlay, recorded Steptoe's Tuba Concerto for Naxos. In 2007 Steptoe wrote a second work for him, the Tuba Sonata, and which Gourlay premiered in Glasgow and then, in July 2008, in Cincinatti at the International Tuba and Euphonium Congress. All of Steptoe's recent works are now published by Editions BIM. His new website, www.rogersteptoe.com is available from January 1st 2009.

Graham Ashton

As a soloist, Graham Ashton has appeared with numerous orchestras including the BBC Symphony, English Chamber Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra in Dublin, Australian Chamber Orchestra and SABC Symphonies in South Africa. Most recent appearances include the New York Virtuosi, Orchestra of Our Time, Bachworks Orchestra and Manhattan’s premier contemporary ensemble, FIRES-New York. He also performed Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ Strathclyde Concerto and Trumpet Sonata Opus 1 at the 2008 Dartington Summer School in UK and in the presence of the composer. Mr. Ashton has made eight acclaimed solo recordings for EMI Virgin, Nimbus, IMP Classics, Koch and Claves with the English Chamber Orchestra, English Symphony and Irish Chamber Orchestra. Of his award-winning cd ‘The Contemporary Trumpet’ (EMI Virgin), Gramophone wrote: "Graham Ashton shows himself to be an acutely thoughtful musician: virtuosity is never regarded as an end in itself, the sound never brazen and he conveys an unswerving clarity of vision which should be admired beyond the confines of the brass world". Recognized for their commitment to contemporary brass chamber music, last season the Graham Ashton Brass Ensemble gave acclaimed performances of Elliott Carter’s virtuosic Brass Quintet in honour of the composer’s 100th Birthday, ending with a final performance at Symphony Space on Broadway with the composer present. Last season, GABE also performed music by Tim Souster, Hans Werner Henze, Petr Eben, Jim Pugh and Daniel Schnyder. This season, they perform Sir Peter Maxwell Davies’ Quintet for Brass, together with Luciano Berio’s Call and Alvin Etler’s Brass Quintet. They will also premier Nico Muhly’s Senex Puerum Portabat for brass and voices at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City on December 20th. In addition to his busy teaching and performing schedule, Graham Ashton is a consultant to the Getzen Instrument Co. and a clinician for the Edwards Instrument Co. whose instruments he helps design and plays exclusively. He also is a prolific composer and arranger with a number of works published by Editions BIM. Most recent commissions include SUNY Fredonia, Australian Embassy, Washington DC, FIRES-New York, Sony Records and the Guggenheim Museum. Graham Ashton lives in the small hamlet of Granite Springs just north of Manhattan, where he is co-director of the Granite Springs Music Society, a festival committed to promoting performances of extraordinary chamber music, together with exquisite food and outrageous wine.

Christopher Jacobson

Christopher Jacobson is Assistant Organist and Assistant Director of Music at Washington National Cathedral where he accompanies, assists in directing the cathedral choirs, and is responsible for the training and education of the Junior Choristers. Prior to his appointment he served as Organ Scholar at the Cathedral since 2006. Before coming to Washington, DC, Mr. Jacobson was Organist and Choirmaster at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Rochester, New York. Mr. Jacobson holds the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance and the Sacred Music Diploma from the Eastman School of Music as well as the Associate diploma from the American Guild of Organists. At Eastman he studied organ with David Higgs, improvisation and continuo with William Porter and church music with Peter DuBois. Mr. Jacobson received his Bachelor of Music degree with distinction in Organ Performance from St. Olaf College where he studied organ with John Ferguson and Catherine Rodland, and piano with Kathryn Ananda-Owens. Mr. Jacobson began his organ study with Mme. Yvaine Duisit while a student at Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Virginia. He is a graduate of the American Boychoir School where he was a treble chorister under James Litton. Mr. Jacobson has won first prize in several organ competitions: the 2005 John R. Rodland Scholarship Competition, the 2003 American Guild of Organists/Quimby Region VI Competition for Young Organists, the 2003 Schubert Club Competition in Minneapolis and the 2001 Paul Manz Bach and Hymn Organ Competition. He was a semi-finalist in the 2006 AGO National Young Artist Competition and won second prize in the 2005 Miami International Organ Competition. Mr. Jacobson’s recital performances have been heard on three continents including programs at the 2004 AGO National Convention in Los Angeles, as well as St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Dublin, Ireland) and St. Michael’s Church (Melbourne, Australia).