Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra
by Sterling Maffe
Commissioned by Ilan Morgenstern and a consortium of performers, educators, and enthusiasts.
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Hello, dear friends!
Welcome to the official project page for my new Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra, written in collaboration with Ilan Morgenstern and an incredible consortium of performers, educators, and supporters who’ve come together to help make this piece a reality.
This page is a space to share progress, preview materials, and connect with others who may be interested in performing the work in the future.
About the Piece
The concerto is written in three movements, each with its own distinct character:
I. Maestoso
The first movement introduces the concerto’s main themes and establishes its emotional tone. While not overtly technical, it includes some demanding passages and offers plenty of musical depth. At just nine minutes, it also works beautifully as a standalone piece—ideal for recitals, guest appearances, or pairing with other works. (Begins at 0:00 in mockup)
II. Adagio
The second movement is slow and expressive, built around a simple, lyrical line. It features soft but showy diatonic runs and colorful ornamentation. (Begins at 9:12 in mockup)
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III. Vivace
The third and final movement follows without pause. It’s a fast, fiery conclusion centered on the development of a simple octatonic motif, driving toward a feverish and vibrant finish. (Begins at 13:04 in mockup)​
Who’s Involved
Ilan Morgenstern is the driving force behind this project—an outstanding bass trombonist, educator, and collaborator who’s helped shape this concerto from the very beginning. He’s performed with major orchestras, taught students around the country, and is always pushing new ideas forward in the low brass world.
I'm Sterling Maffe, a composer for film, games, and concert music. My work includes projects like Call of Duty: Mobile, New World: Aeternum, Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle Earth, and Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery—but concert music has always been my first love. This concerto has been a long-time dream, and working with Ilan to bring it to life has been a true joy.
Scheduled Performances
Sep. 30, 2025
University of Michigan
Concert Band
Courtney Snyder
Director
Mar. 1, 2026
Youth Orchestra
of San Antonio Philharmonic
Troy Peters
Director
Oct. 18, 2025
Brevard
Symphony Orchestra
Christopher Confessore
Director
Nov. 9, 2025
Texas Medical Center
Orchestra
Libi Lebel
Director
This project was made possible in collaboration with a consortium lead by Ilan Morgenstern and with major contributions from:
James Markey
Bill Thomas
James Nova
Eric Prodger
Jeff Dee
Noah Roper
Sun He
Raymond Lam
Brian Brink
Christopher Hernacki
Wesley Mayhew
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Martin McCain
Michale Brown
Rudi Hohn
Steven Long
Jason Sato
Benjamin Yates
and with additional contributions from Dean McCarty, Shelby Kifer, Patrick Sulllivan, Alex Handley, Jonathan Warburton,
Liam Kantzler, Fabio Rovere, Kim Olsen, Jason Hausback, Daniel Cosio, 貴俊 大橋, Terence Baber, Nick Sullivan, and Jackson Howard
and with additional contributions from Dean McCarty, Shelby Kifer, Patrick Sulllivan, Alex Handley, Jonathan Warburton,
Liam Kantzler, Fabio Rovere, Kim Olsen, Jason Hausback, Daniel Cosio, 貴俊 大橋, Terence Baber, Nick Sullivan, and Jackson Howard