This year, I had the pleasure of participating in the International Symposium for Wind Instruments at the Academy of Music in Łódź. It was an honour to be part of such a committed and accomplished faculty, engaging in a deep exploration of orchestral playing and brass performance. The opportunity to work closely with dedicated trombone students and educators from both the secondary and university levels made the experience particularly meaningful.

Throughout the day, I was fortunate to conduct a series of individual lessons, offering the chance to focus in depth on topics such as posture, tone production, and interpretive approaches to pedagogical trombone repertoire and orchestral excerpts. It was especially rewarding to witness the students’ openness to guidance, demonstrating a strong commitment not only to technical refinement but also to expressive development.

The afternoons featured a series of lectures and panel discussions, covering a broad range of subjects including strategies for managing performance anxiety, audition preparation, and the integration of orchestral studies into daily practice routines. The diversity of perspectives presented by the faculty contributed to an enriching and intellectually stimulating environment.

The weekend concluded with a concert featuring both faculty and participants, a fitting finale to two days of focused and fulfilling music-making. I am pleased to share a recording of my performance during the final concert alongside the fantastic pianist Marta Macierzyńska, whom I had the pleasure to work with.

My sincere thanks go to my fellow trombone colleagues Dariusz Sprawka, Robert Żelazko, and the outstanding organizer of the symposium, Sławomir Cichor, for their collegiality and musical insight. I’d also like to recognise the Academy of Music in Łódź for hosting such a well-curated and professionally executed event. Experiences like this continue to affirm the importance of community within our field, and the vital role that open exchange and shared artistry play in sustaining the evolution of our craft.