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Release Date: 
Wednesday, March 23, 2022

HawkStrong: alumnus Anthony Triplett is “performing some of the best music ever written”

An image of Anthony Triplett playing the trombone.
HFC alumnus Anthony Triplett (seen here playing the trombone) wanted to make music for a living, and he is quite successful at it. One of his mentors was the late HFC music professor Rick Goward.

Professional musician Anthony Triplett credits HFC for starting his music career.

“The music program at HFC is really something special,” said Triplett, of Philadelphia. “HFC helped me connect to a larger community of dedicated musicians and provided many early opportunities to make music at a higher level.”

Triplett was dual enrolled at HFC while attending Roosevelt High School in his native Wyandotte.

“I was recommended for the dual enrollment program by my high school band director. I started in the Metropolitan Symphonic Band and was later encouraged to enroll in the Studio 110 Jazz Band. I just loved being in the (MacKenzie Fine Arts Center) around people who wanted to make music!”

“Anthony was a joy to work with both as a high school student in the Metropolitan Symphony Band and later as a returning guest soloist,” said retired HFC music professor Randy Knight. “He’s a wonderful musician and a great example of the quality of musicians that have participated in the HFC music program and who now are musical ambassadors for the College.”

Mentored by the late Rick Goward

One of the greatest influences on his career was the late HFC music instructor and Big Band founder Rick Goward. Triplett has fond memories of his mentor and even remembered meeting Goward for the first time.

“As a high school student, Rick Goward could be rather intimidating. He had a big voice and always brought a ton of passion to rehearsals,” reminisced Triplett. “The longer I knew Rick, I realized his passion was seeing his students succeed. One of my favorite memories as a student came when preparing for the President’s Collage concert and Randy Knight was conducting Carmina Burana. Rick got his bass trombone out and we played together. He really was a wonderful educator!”

In 2014, Goward asked Triplett to be the guest soloist with the Metropolitan Symphonic Band. It didn’t happen until 2018, but it was certainly worth the four years in the making.

“As a trombone student, I always felt I had a special connection to Rick. He encouraged me to strive for the next level musically as a student in the Metropolitan Symphonic Band, Studio 110 Jazz Band, and later professionally,” said Triplett. “My fondest memories of Rick will always be sitting next to him as a fellow bass trombonist. He gave me the opportunity to return to HFC to perform as the guest soloist, working with both him and Randy Knight.”

Making music all over the U.S. and Europe – and with Elvis Costello

Initially, Triplett didn’t play the trombone.

“I first picked the saxophone, then started experimenting with instruments in middle school and landed on the trombone in high school. My teachers had a big impact on me: Elementary band teacher Jay Stuart, high school band director Carl Poposki, and Rick Goward – they were all trombonists! I love the sound of the trombone, especially the bass trombone. Mr. Poposki took me to Michigan State University to attend a master class taught by Charlie Vernon of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and I was completely blown away with the sound coming from Mr. Vernon’s bell.”

Triplett has been working in the Philadelphia area since 2008. He is an active soloist, chamber musician, and educator who has performed throughout the United States and Europe. Currently, he serves as a trombonist with The Media Theater in Media, PA and frequently performs with Symphoria in Syracuse, NY and the Bay Atlantic Symphony in Atlantic City, NJ.

As a soloist, Triplett has appeared with the Pennsylvania Symphonic Winds; the Montgomery County Concert Band in Telford, PA; and the Andrea Clearfield Salon in Wynnewood, PA. Other venues of note include the Lancaster Symphony in Lancaster, PA and The Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia. He has also shared the stage with the Chieftains, a traditional Irish folk band, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Elvis Costello.

“Being on the same stage as the great Elvis Costello is a highlight of my career,” said Triplett.

“It is our responsibility as performers to teach”

As an educator, Triplett has worked with students whose ages range from childhood through adulthood, teaching low brass (trombone, euphonium, and tuba). Currently, he is an instructor at Germantown Academy in Ft. Washington, PA in addition to teaching at his own private studio. He has also taught for the Paul Effman Music Services, Inc. in Syosset, NY.

“Each age group has different rewards,” explained Triplett. “With the younger students, I really love seeing their pure excitement when they play an instrument, whereas with an older student, we can dig a little deeper into the emotional side of what we are playing. I would say I prefer the variety.”

Many of his students have been successful, performing in honors ensembles such as the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County in Pennsylvania, and pursuing music in college. He has been a guest lecturer at his alma mater, Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH and for Trombone Day at the University of Delaware.

He also presented at the Big 12 Trombone Conference at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Triplett serves as the Pennsylvania representative of the International Trombone Association TAPAS program.

“It is our responsibility as performers to teach. This is the only way we can keep the art moving forward for the next generation,” he said. “I love to share my excitement of trombone and music with students.”

Feeling the excitement of the audience

Triplett earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. This private school is the only college in the U.S. solely specializing in training music educators. He went on to earn his master’s degree in trombone performance from BGSU.

“I never thought about doing anything else. I loved playing the trombone and just wanted to make music,” said Triplett. “I played some of my first paying jobs as a high school student and often played church services and other small jobs throughout college. I have been an active, working musician for about 20 years now.”

He spoke about the best part about being a musician.

“There is a moment right before walking on stage, you can feel the excitement of the audience and your colleagues in the ensemble,” said Triplett. “All the personal practice and rehearsals have built to this moment and now you get to perform some of the best music ever written!”