Red Deer trombonist Malena Lorenson is taking her talents to Montreal's McGill University. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

en route to montreal

Thurber trombonist taking her talents to McGill University

Jul 29, 2021 | 11:14 AM

A Lindsay Thurber student has been accepted into McGill University’s Schulich School of Music.

The Montreal-based institution will welcome recent Thurber grad Malena Lorenson, a bass trombonist. She will attend on a $6,000/year scholarship for her undergraduate music degree, and a $4,000 entrance scholarship.

“The school has a great international reputation and I’ll be able to build a lot of connections there,” says Lorenson. “The bass trombone teacher there is really great.”

An active participant in Thurber’s band program, Lorenson is also a long-time member of the Red Deer Royals, where she currently holds the title of concertmaster.

She has been playing instruments since grade seven, when she first picked up a bass trombone.

OPEN HOUSE JUL.11

Reading College reaches its teen years

6h ago

kjeryn dakin

Sylvan Lake town councillor happy to be back community-building after getting peace bond

20h ago

new president elected

Big changes to leadership at Red Deer Minor Hockey

Jun 28, 2024

“Nobody else plays the bass trombone so I had to become independent,” she says, noting some of her inspiration came from seeing a Calgary event called Slide Into Spring, put on by the International Trombone Association. “I started taking every opportunity I could.”

Band Teacher Jennifer Mann adds that, “Malena was a dream band student. She is a hard worker, a helper and an inspiration to her classmates and to me.”

Lorenson has also studied privately with Dr. James Bicigo and began performing and competing at festivals.

She hopes to pursue graduate studies and eventually have a chair in an orchestra.

“I want to keep jazz music in my life,” Lorenson says. “Even though I’m not majoring in jazz, I just love it so much.”