L to R: Conrad Jones, John Pearson, Glenn Fischthal, and Adam Luftman (San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, photo courtesy of Conrad Jones.)
After having just performed with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra for its 2015-16 season, trumpet-playing wunderkind, and native Long Islander Conrad Jones looks back to some of the highlights of the year.
However, before we get to that point, another pressing question remains:
So, what’s next, Conrad?!
“Actually, I’ll be playing with the San Francisco Opera during its summer season, so I’m pumped to have more time in town than I had originally planned. In fact, I’m really excited to roast some banda licks in Don Carlo!
The Kyōdai Brass Quintet (From L to R: Conrad Jones, Gary Jones, Douglas Jones, Hayato Tanaka, and Hirofumi Tanaka) – Click to enlarge.
Then, later this summer, I’ll perform with the Kyōdai Brass Quintet, a group I helped found, along with my younger brothers Gary and Douglas Jones. Working with the Kyōdai Brass always feels like a family reunion, with lots of food and 10-hour rehearsal days.
As a group, we also do a lot of outreach concerts for local schools, and it feels great to play music I love for the people who need it most!
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Principal Trumpet of the ISO
In the fall, I’ll start a new position as Principal Trumpet with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. It’ll be quite a climate transition—especially considering I just moved to San Francisco from Tucson, Arizona. On the other hand, the vibe in that group is very similar to that of the SF Ballet Orchestra: warm, inviting, and with a lot of camaraderie. So, I think my time here in SF has set me up well for the move.
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And the most memorable aspects of this season?
Musically speaking…
SF Ballet’s “Swimmer” (Photo: © Erik Tomasson) – Click to enlarge.
“Performing and recording Shinji Eshima’s Swimmer were, by far, significant highlights of my time in San Francisco. I got super into the choreography, and I must have read John Cheever’s short story The Swimmer at least 9 times in the pit. What an amazing ballet!
“On a similar level, our principal trumpet here in the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, Adam Luftman, is a total beast. In a way, sitting next to him this season has felt like I’ve gotten paid to take lessons every service!”
Click to enlarge. — SF Ballet Orchestra at Skywalker Sound, February, 2016. (On trumpet to the right: Adam Luftman and Conrad Jones)
On a more personal note…
From L to R: Conrad Jones, Brad Hogarth, Jeannie Psomas, and Gary Jones at Bistro Jeanty in Yountville, CA
“My brother Gary Jones, a trombonist with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, also just moved to the Bay Area. It has been awesome being close to family and getting to explore San Francisco together. To this point, however, we’ve mostly explored only the food and drinks.
“Luckily, my close friends and roommates here in SF (clarinetist Jeannie Psomas and trumpeter Brad Hogarth), know all of the great restaurants, with some of our favorites including Spices II on Clement Street and La Taqueria on Mission!”
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SFBO Musicians — So, after a season that has ranged from the most classical of pieces like Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake to more contemporary works such as Sufjan Stevens’ In The Countenance of Kings, we’d like to say thank you, Conrad, for helping to make the SF Ballet Orchestra’s 40th Anniversary Season even more spectacular! Also, congratulations on your new appointment as Principal Trumpet with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra!
And, as best said by Principal Trumpet Adam Luftman:
“Conrad has been fantastic to play with this year! He is a great player and a fun hang. We will all miss having him around.”
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- Swan Lake Trumpet Section (Scott Macomb, Adam Luftman, Conrad Jones, And John Pearson)
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- Conrad with Dad and Aunt at Alamo Square Seafood Grill on San Francisco
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- Adam Luftman and Conrad Jones with Kip Winger. Herbst Theatre, March 2016.
***** Conrad Jones can be heard on the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra’s forthcoming CD releases of Swimmer by Shinji Eshima and Schumann’s Piano Concerto featuring pianist Lara Downes. The release dates will likely be in 2017.