Music & Lyrics
KATE AMRINE
Trumpet Player
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Kate Amrine is a prominent young trumpet player balancing a multifaceted career – everything from developing new repertoire and curating concerts to freelancing with many different groups in the New York City area. Recent past performances include shows with Wordless Music Orchestra, Ensemble LPR, two solos with an orchestra in Japan, and a show at Carnegie Hall with the new Wavefield Ensemble. Upcoming performances include an Off-Broadway run of Duncan Sheik’s new musical “Alice by Heart” and various gigs with brass ensemble eGALitarian.
Kate is extremely dedicated to commissioning and performing new music, premiering over 30 pieces both as a soloist and a chamber musician. Kate’s debut album As I Am was released on November 7, 2017, and it features new music by women composers. Through this project, she was invited to present recitals at various festivals and events, including the International Women’s Brass Conference and the Women Composer’s Festival of Hartford. As a composer, Kate wrote the title track of her debut album and continues to write other works, most recently composing a duet for trumpet and alto flute. |
In addition to advocating for female composers, Kate is also very passionate about increasing diversity and representation in the women’s brass community. She is a co-leader of eGalitarian – an ensemble of women brass players playing music by women composers and advocating for women in the community. She is also half of the team behind Brass Chicks – a blog dedicated to celebrating the work of female brass players with guest posts and interviews.
As an educator, Kate enjoys teaching private lessons in her own studio and as an adjunct instructor at New York University.
As an educator, Kate enjoys teaching private lessons in her own studio and as an adjunct instructor at New York University.
Nancy Burger, senior editor, talked with Kate about her CD “As I Am” and her various other projects, including her upcoming album.
I love the title of your last CD, "As I Am." Can you tell me a little bit about the inspiration behind the title?
I wrote the title track after I was pretty much done with the record. I had seven female composers already recorded and edited, ready to go. And then I thought, "How can I put out a record of music by women composers for trumpet and not write something myself?" I felt like it would be incomplete. So, I wrote the title track within three days. It was sort of inspired by my experiences dating in New York - which was crazy. When I was composing the opening line, I was singing in my head, "As I am, take me as I am."
I think this will resonate with our audience because Sanctuary is really about empowering women and helping us feel good in our skin. So, that was a year ago. Do you feel like the process empowered you?
Yes. It was a big deal for me because I was finishing my graduate degree at the time and presenting to the world what I could do in the hopes that people would hear it and want to work with me. I knew when it came out that it would take time to get reviews, but it was very well received. It's very cool that it resonated with people.
I think you're representative of a lot of today's musicians in that you have your hands in a lot of different projects. You compose, teach, perform, contract, speak. Is your career going the way you envisioned it?
For the most part, yes - it is going the way I envisioned it. A year or two ago, I wouldn't have thought that some of the things I'm doing now would be possible, but I feel incredibly lucky and fortunate to be where I am today. You know…we can set goals and make plans all we want, but we never really know how things are going to happen. It is a really exciting time, and I have my hands in a lot of inspiring directions.
Of all the things you're doing, what's your favorite?
It is so hard to say! Freelancing in New York City is a never ending experience of keeping me on my toes stylistically, and it is incredibly exciting to be able to perform in so many different scenarios. I also really enjoy teaching my private students. I have ten students of all ages, from elementary school students to my college students at New York University. It's great to be able to work with them on music they enjoy and challenge them to always do better.
I love the title of your last CD, "As I Am." Can you tell me a little bit about the inspiration behind the title?
I wrote the title track after I was pretty much done with the record. I had seven female composers already recorded and edited, ready to go. And then I thought, "How can I put out a record of music by women composers for trumpet and not write something myself?" I felt like it would be incomplete. So, I wrote the title track within three days. It was sort of inspired by my experiences dating in New York - which was crazy. When I was composing the opening line, I was singing in my head, "As I am, take me as I am."
I think this will resonate with our audience because Sanctuary is really about empowering women and helping us feel good in our skin. So, that was a year ago. Do you feel like the process empowered you?
Yes. It was a big deal for me because I was finishing my graduate degree at the time and presenting to the world what I could do in the hopes that people would hear it and want to work with me. I knew when it came out that it would take time to get reviews, but it was very well received. It's very cool that it resonated with people.
I think you're representative of a lot of today's musicians in that you have your hands in a lot of different projects. You compose, teach, perform, contract, speak. Is your career going the way you envisioned it?
For the most part, yes - it is going the way I envisioned it. A year or two ago, I wouldn't have thought that some of the things I'm doing now would be possible, but I feel incredibly lucky and fortunate to be where I am today. You know…we can set goals and make plans all we want, but we never really know how things are going to happen. It is a really exciting time, and I have my hands in a lot of inspiring directions.
Of all the things you're doing, what's your favorite?
It is so hard to say! Freelancing in New York City is a never ending experience of keeping me on my toes stylistically, and it is incredibly exciting to be able to perform in so many different scenarios. I also really enjoy teaching my private students. I have ten students of all ages, from elementary school students to my college students at New York University. It's great to be able to work with them on music they enjoy and challenge them to always do better.
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You have a new album coming out soon?
I do. It's called This is My Letter to the World, but it doesn't have a [release] date yet. It's definitely coming out in 2019…maybe by September. It's about half done now. A lot of it will be my compositions, since I didn't write much on the last one - but of course, that takes time. I'm trying to figure out how to balance composing with all of the other things I'm doing. What's the theme of the album? It is new music for trumpet inspired by politics and social concepts. Sounds like it will be provocative. There are a couple of tracks that are kind of in your face, which I think is certainly one way to do it. Some of the tracks are more subdued, and you can't quite tell what it is about on a first listen. I know that I will never please everyone with my art - but I feel very enthusiastic about how great the music is, and I feel like it is the right time to bring this message into the world. |
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Where do you find Sanctuary? (#WheresYourSanctuary)
Definitely in my mornings and while practicing. I really like routines, which is hard when you're so busy. But to be able to wake up, have a cup of coffee, reflect, do yoga, warm up and practice - that's definitely where everything feels the best. If I can't do that, I feel a little frazzled.
Definitely in my mornings and while practicing. I really like routines, which is hard when you're so busy. But to be able to wake up, have a cup of coffee, reflect, do yoga, warm up and practice - that's definitely where everything feels the best. If I can't do that, I feel a little frazzled.
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