TBJ140: John Lofton
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TBJ140: John Lofton, Bass Trombone with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on YOLO, diversity in the arts, and a crazy trip to Venezuela. John Lofton is a great guy and thoughtful musician and shared some great insights and ideas with Andrew & Lance.
In this fun and lively discussion, we cover:
Oh yeah, and Lance
Carol dissed Lance
John starting with the LA Phil officially in 2008 but played as a long term sub starting in 2004
How the long term sub thing works for or against you
It can be a challenge for black players if they don't know you as a person
McGurk Effect
Audition committees wield a lot of power
Committees can sometimes tend to look for alter egos
Diversity in the arts
The recent tragedies and the response
This creates an opportunity for orchestras in how they present themselves
LA Phil tour to Venezuela
Impact of El Sistema
YOLA
Resident Fellows Program at the LA Phil
Cultural relevance with orchestras and the cities they serve
Andrew at a James Brown concert
John seeing an orchestral concert in Jr High in Philadelphia, getting the bug but seeing the lack of diversity and how/when that changed in the Philadelphia Orchestra
The challenge of getting to a critical mass
The comparisons with women joining professional orchestras
Herd immunity from idiots
Lift Every Voice project with Wycliffe and Jim Nova
Safety concerns when on tour in Venezuela
Music teaching in Venezuela coming from a place of love
Alternating Mahler Symphonies with the Bolivar Orchestra
LA Phil plans for the fall
Fire-hosing content to the internet
Michael Parker is remarkable, let him know!
John's upcoming session in The Brass Junkies Academy Summer Workshop
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Expertly produced by Will Houchin with love, care, and enthusiasm.
From his bio:
A native of Philadelphia and a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, JOHN LOFTON began his professional career as Bass Trombonist with the State Orchestra of Mexico. After his years in Toluca, Mexico, Lofton moved to Hawaii to perform with the Honolulu Symphony and later became the Bass Trombonist of the Phoenix Symphony. In 2008 he was appointed to the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Bass Trombonist. In addition to his responsibilities with the LA Phil, he has toured and recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra and performed with the San Francisco Symphony as well as the Santa Fe Opera. Lofton’s musical interests also include chamber music; he has performed with several brass quintets and is a faculty member at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute featuring the Summit Brass. He teaches at California State University Long Beach, and has students from several L.A. colleges. In addition to appearing on several sound stage recordings, Lofton has produced both solo and chamber recordings.
