Music From Home
Martin McCain, trombone
Artina McCain, piano
"Heritage"
(program details below)
August 7th, 2022
3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Heritage
Gangbusters
James Kazik (b. 1976)
Ragtime Fantasy
David F. Wilborn (b. 1963)
Tango Nuevo
David F. Wilborn
Intermission
Encuentros
Carolina Calvache (b. 1985)
Fantasy In Purple
Florence Price (1887-1953)
I, Too
Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)
Intermission
Amazing Grace
His Eye Is On the Sparrow
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Marcus Wilcher (b. 1986)
Boogie
David Wilborn (b. 1963)
Known for their fusion of classical, jazz and gospel programming, the McCain Duo (Artina and Martin) present concerts with a surprising depth of emotional contrasts. Audiences describe their performances as “breathtaking, awe-inspiring, and invigorating.” Their marriage and musical collaboration create an intimate range of tone colors and imaginative storytelling.
The McCain Duo are champions of building personal connections with composers to create a larger repertoire. Their award-winning albums Shades and Trombone Czar: The Extended Version feature commissioned works and were each honored with two Global Music Awards.
The duo has performed throughout Asia: at Mahidol University (Thailand), The University of Toronto (Canada) and Radio Television Hong Kong. US highlights include performances at the Gateways Music Festival (NY), the American Trombone Workshop (VA), The Great American Brass Band Festival (KY) and most recently the Music Teachers National Association Convention. Their concerts and recordings have been broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today, CKWR Toronto, and KMFA Classical Austin.
In addition to their performing careers, the McCain Duo has created online professional development programming for emerging artists. They host a weekly social media video series “Elevate with the McCain Duo” covering topics ranging from personal goal setting to auditions and expanded career options for musicians. They have presented clinics on arts entrepreneurship at Indiana University, Ithaca College and at numerous performing arts high schools.
Dr. Artina McCain is Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Piano Studies at the University of Memphis. Dr. Martin McCain is Professor of Music and Coordinator of the Brass Area at Texas State University. Together, the McCains have served on the faculties of the Austin Chamber Music Festival and the PRIZM Ensemble International Chamber Music Festival. For more information, please visit www.mccainduo.com and follow @mccainduo.
Bass trombonist Martin McCain’s career spans an impressive range of musical genres. He is a four-time winner of the Global Music Awards and was featured as their “Emerging Artist” in Billboard magazine. A third-generation musician, Martin maintains a versatile performance schedule as a soloist, recording artist, chamber, orchestral, jazz/commercial musician and educator. With performances described as "solid and masterful," (International Trombone Association Journal) with a “warm and beautiful,” tone (Glissando Magazine).
McCain’s international recital credits include concerts at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory (Singapore), Mahidol University in (Thailand), the Zagreb Academy of Music in (Croatia), and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. His performances and arrangements have been broadcast on CKWR Toronto, Radio Television Hong Kong, and NPR's "Performance Today."
As a recording artist, Martin has released three CDs, Trombone Czar: Russian Treasures Recorded Live! (2012), Shades (2014) and Trombone Czar: The Extended Version (2015). As a soloist, Martin has performed with the Croatian Army Wind Band, United States Army Concert Band "Pershing's Own" and the United States Army Brass Quintet. And as an orchestral player, he has performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Utah Symphony Orchestra and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
McCain is the leader of the award-winning jazz trombone ensemble, JazzBonez and a member of the Minor 4th Trombone Quartet and the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass. Martin regularly performs with his wife, pianist Artina McCain as the McCain Duo. As a jazz/commercial musician, he has performed with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Frank Sinatra Jr. Orchestra, Memphis Jazz Orchestra and several Broadway touring ensembles.
Martin is an Artist/Teacher of Trombone and the youngest faculty member to hold the rank of full professor at Texas State University. In addition to his duties at Texas State, Martin has spent summers on the faculty of the Austin Chamber Music Festival, the Interharmony International Music Festival (Italy), the PRIZM International Chamber Music Festival, the SliderAsia Music Festival (Hong Kong) and the English Brass Academy (Croatia).
McCain received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees at the University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. His principal teachers are Nathaniel Brickens, Marta Hofacre, and Greg Luscombe.
Martin McCain is a performing artist for S.E. Shires, Reunion Blues Gig Bags and plays on the "McCain" signature mouthpiece series manufactured by Pickett Brass. In his spare time, Martin is an avid BBQ pitmaster and sports enthusiast. For more information, visit www.martinmccain.com.
Described as a pianist with “power and finesse” (Dallas Arts Society), “beautiful and fiery” (KMFA Austin) and having a “sense of color, balance and texture” (Austin Chamber Music Center) Artina McCain, has a built a three-fold career as a performer, educator and speaker. Recent performance highlights include guest appearances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Oregon East Symphony, and the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. As a recitalist, her credits include performances at the Mahidol University in Bangkok, Hatch Recital Hall in Rochester, Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens in Jacksonville, FL and the Desoto Arts Commission in Desoto,TX.
McCain's performances have been heard on radio CKWR Toronto, KMFA Classical Austin, and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). Television appearances include features on CSPAN for the MLK 50 Commemoration. Artina is a three-time Global Music Awards winner for the album “I, Too” (Naxos), a collaboration with soprano Icy Monroe, focused on African American Spirituals and Art Songs. In 2021, McCain won a Global Music Award Gold Medal for her album Heritage.
Dedicated to promoting the works of Black and other underrepresented composers, McCain curates Black Composers Concerts for multiple arts organizations and is an American Prize winner for her solo piano recordings of these works. She has also won performance awards for curating the Austin Chamber Music Centers’ Black Composers Concert from the Austin Critics Table.
Artina was a featured inspirational leader in the award-winning PBS documentary series Roadtrip Nation: Degree of Impact in an episode exploring the real-world impact of professionals with doctoral degrees in and outside of academia.
After years of battling a performance injury and now enjoying 10 years of full recovery, McCain is an advocate for musicians’ wellness. Her article on performance injury and Muscle Activation Techniques was published in Clavier Companion and she is a regular contributor for the Piano Magazine. To help other musicians, she hosts an annual Musicians Wellness Forum in Austin, TX which explores the benefits and options for alternative care. Artina has presented on these topics and others at the Music Teachers National Association Conference and the National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy.
McCain has performed and served on the faculty of numerous summer festivals including the Austin Chamber Music Festival, the Illinois Summer Youth Music, the Gateways Music Festival in Rochester, NY, and the Walled City Music International Piano Festival and Competition in Ireland. McCain graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University. She received her Master of Music from Cleveland Institute of Music and holds a doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Currently, she is Associate Professor of Piano and Coordinator of Keyboard Studies at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis. Artina McCain is a Yamaha Artist.
