Undergraduate trombonist Josh Cirtina has become the first UK student to win the George Roberts Bass Trombone Competition.
Held earlier this month in Rochester, New York, the competition is open to trombonists under the age of 18 and forms part of the International Trombone Association Festival (ITA); an annual event comprising solo and ensemble competitions, workshops, masterclasses and concerts.
On securing the award Josh (pictured above, right), a former JRNCM student who is currently in his first year and studies with Adrian Morris, said: ‘Winning the ITA George Roberts International Bass Trombone Competition has been a huge honour for me. The festival was a fantastic experience which I will never forget, where I made new friends and learned a lot! I am also very grateful to the RNCM for supporting me.’
Josh’s win marks the first time in the ITA’s history that a UK student has won the bass competition and only the second time that a UK student has won any additional ITA competition category.
