01/01/2026
2025: A Year of Artistic Milestones
As 2025 draws to a close, we reflect with immense pride on a landmark year for bass trombone soloist Darrin C. Milling. Following last year's solo debuts in Thailand, Chile, and Goiânia, this year solidified his global reputation through historic collaborations and groundbreaking premieres.
🏛️ Historic Engagements
The year began with a return to the United States. Darrin collaborated with industry giants Joseph Alessi (New York Philharmonic) and Blair Bollinger (The Philadelphia Orchestra) to coordinate and perform with the elite ensemble Posaune Decuple for it's 5th performance at the historic Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania.
The Milestone?
For the first time since the group’s 2006 inception by the late Glenn Dodson (1931 - 2007), the roster featured female trombonists: Nicole Abissi (American Symphony Orchestra) and LBP’s new associate artist Victoria Garcia (Boston Symphony Orchestra guest).
🇧🇷 The Brazilian Debut of ‘Brazilian Inventions No. 1’
After premiering Juliana Ripke’s complete bass trombone concerto in Chile last year, Darrin brought the work home to Brazil:
City of Vitória: A three-concert series as featured soloist with the Espírito Santo State Symphony, led by guest conductor Mariana Menezes.
City of Rio de Janeiro: A solo debut at the legendary Sala Cecília Meirelles with the Youth Orchestra of Rio de Janeiro, under the direction of Fiorella Solares (Ação Social Pela Música) and conducted by Maestro Claudio Cruz.
Masterclass Debut in Rio:
For the first time since Darrin's arrival in Brazil, he gave a masterclass to brass players of the Youth Orchestra and guests from the region.
🎹 Chamber Music & Artistic Dialogue
The Heritage Duo Ensemble: Performed for the 60th-anniversary series of Sala Cecília Meirelles, attended by music mogul Myrian Dauelsberg (Dellarte), mentor to prize winning pianist Ligia Moreno.
Duo das Américas: Darrin and long-time partner Deborah Fernandes Nilson (piano) met at São Paulo State University to rehearse a 2026 program featuring 6+ works by female composers.
Casio Collaboration: Darrin and Uzbek pianist Olga Kopylova (Moscow Conservatory graduate and co-founder of The HeritageDuoEnsemble) filmed a specialized production for Casio, discussing how the Celviano digital piano line is able to serve for the rigorous demands of rehearsal, study and composition at home for amatuer and professional musicians.
🛠️ Forging New Creations & Technical Innovations
Sound: Russian violinist and jeweler Svetlana Tereshkova refitted Darrin’s Schilke modelo 60 and his signature Griego .5 Darrin mouthpieces, enhancing comfort and sound production for both solo and orchestral profiles.
Recording News: Darrin recorded Paloma Pitaya’s ‘Capricho Milonga’ for bass trombone (dedicated to him) with USC Media and producer Ulrich Schneider for a 2026 release. Paloma also joins the LBP roster for the LBP Violin & Bass Trombone Duo and the LBP String Quartet.
Trio Low Brass Brasil: The ensemble reformed this year, featuring two of Brazil's female brass pioneers Tayanne Sepulveda (horn) and Joyce Peixoto (tenor trombone).
🤝 Strategic Partnership & Global Distribution
In December, LBP & DCM Productions formalized a partnership with Azul Music, Brazil’s leading classical music distributor.
Upcoming Release: An album by The Heritage Duo Ensemble (with former pianist and partner Sin Ae Lee) featuring works by Fauré, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, and Mahler, including a performance with violinist Claudio Cruz.
🌊 A Grand Orchestral Finale
The season concluded at the Vermelhos Amphitheater in Ilhabela. Led by Maestro Roberto Minczuk, Darrin performed alongside Brazil’s finest from a variety of renowned ensembles in a program featuring Scheherazade, Boléro, the 1812 Overture, and Pines of Rome.
On behalf of LBP Artistic Management and Darrin, we thank our partners and audiences for their continued support. We wish you a joyful, safe, and musical New Year.
Letícia Yoshiko Shiozaki Parede
Manager – Empresária, LBP Artistic Management