Trombone Studio
University of Delaware
Meet the Artists
Achilles Liarmakopoulos
featured Guest ARtist
Achilles Liarmakopoulos is the trombonist of the legendary Canadian Brass. Achilles has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia, performing and educating in the world’s most important venues and institutions.
Achilles holds degrees from the Yale University School of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, San Francisco Conservatory and the Philippos Nakas Conservatory in his hometown of Athens, Greece. Upon completion of his studies, he won the position of principal trombone of the Greek Radio Symphony Orchestra. Achilles has also performed with the Malaysian Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony and European Union Youth Orchestra, among many others.
As a recitalist, Achilles has performed in China, Panama, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Greece, USA and Canada, having been awarded honors at competitions around the globe. At the age of 18, he gave two solo performances at Walt Disney Hall as the Grand Prize Winner of the Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition judged by members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has gone on to win prizes at the Christian Lindberg International Competition, the Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe (YMFE) and the International Trombone Festival’s Robert Marsteller/Conn-Selmer and Larry Wiehe solo competitions, to name a few. Achilles was also awarded the Alexandros S. Onassis Foundation and Greek State Scholarship Foundation educational scholarships.
His discography includes four solo albums, - “Ethereal” with 20th and 21st century lyrical works from around the world, “Trombone Atrevido” dedicated to Choro music from Brazil, “Discoveries” with contemporary compositions on the ODEG label, “Tango Distinto” with Astor Piazzolla’s music on the NAXOS label - five recordings with the Canadian Brass and numerous appearances on classical, pop, Latin, and other albums.
Also he performs all over the world with Pink Martini and he has also performed with salsa icon Ruben Blades.
As part of an exclusive agreement between the Conn-Selmer Corporation and Canadian Brass, Achilles performs on a 24-karat gold-plated Bach A471i trombone.
He is also an adjunct trombone professor at Brooklyn College at CUNY University in NY.
Bruce Tychinski
Trombone Day Host
Dr. Bruce Tychinski is Professor of Trombone at the University of Delaware where he teaches applied lessons, trombone pedagogy and literature, directs the trombone choir and UD Slides jazz trombone ensemble, and hosts an annual Trombone Day event. Dr. Tychinski is a member of the Washington Trombone Ensemble, the Nittany Trombone Quartet, principal trombonist of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra and second trombonist of the Lancaster Symphony. He is also co-founder of the First State Middle School Trombone Choir, an ensemble comprised of middle school trombonists from northern Delaware. During his career, Dr. Tychinski has performed with orchestras, chamber groups, and jazz ensembles throughout the United States and also with many well-known popular artists including Rosemary Clooney, the Four Tops, Little Anthony and the Imperials, the Drifters, Leslie Gore, Lou Christie and Connie Francis. In recent years, he has appeared at the International Trombone Festival, the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference, International Horn Symposium, American Trombone Workshop, and the International Festival of Composers, Conductors, and Collaborators. Dr. Tychinski spearheaded the Stamp Trombone Commission Consortium that resulted in the composition Divertimento for Trombone and Band by Jack Stamp which he premiered at the 2013 Eastern Trombone Workshop with the United States Army Band. His first solo CD, Interplay: New Music for Trombone and Band, was released in Fall 2017.
Dr. Tychinski holds Bachelor and Master of Music in Trombone Performance degrees from Penn State University and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Trombone Performance degree from the University of Kansas. Prior to his appointment at the University of Delaware, Dr. Tychinski taught at the University of Southern Mississippi, St. Norbert College and the University of Northern Iowa.
Bruce Tychinski is an S. E. Shires Performing Artist.
Angela Draghicescu
Guest Artist Collaborative Piano
Praised by the New York Times as “elegant and spectacular ” pianist Angela Draghicescu has established an international reputation as a sought-after pianist and chamber musician and educator. She has performed in major concert halls across North America and throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Engagements have included performances at Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw, Kaufmann Center, Konserthuset -Stockholm, Oslo Philharmonic, Rudolfinium in Prague, and the George Enescu Philharmonic.
Her collaborations include many of today’s leading artists such as James Ehnes, Doc Severinsen, Frank Huang, Noah Bendix-Balgley and members of the Berlin Philharmonic, Canadian Brass, Chicago, New York, and London symphonies. She has appeared in concerts with Maxim Vengerov, René Fleming, Joyce di Donato, and Angela Gheorghiu and has enjoyed collaborations with many leading conductors including Zubin Mehta, Carl St.Claire, David Zinman, and Edwin Outwater.
Previous performances included esteemed guests such as the members of the Royal Families of Sweden, Norway, and England. In 2018 she was honored to receive the invitation of Romania’s President Klaus Johannis to perform for the Three Seas UN Summit for five European Union state leaders. Her festival appearances include the Seattle Chamber Music Society, George Enescu International Festival, Rocky Ridge Music Festival, Interlochen Arts Academy and Si Piano in Switzerland. She has been broadcast live on Medici TV, BBC Radio 3, Classical King FM Seattle, NPR, WQXR New York, WFMT Chicago, Romanian National Radio, and Ruv Ras 1 Iceland.
Deeply committed to expanding chamber music repertoire, she has commissioned and premiered works by composers William Bolcom, Lera Auerbach and Jennifer Higdon. A huge promoter of the works of George Enescu, her research on the music of George Enescu has led to the rediscovery of George Enescu’s first piano trio, a work lost for over 50 years. The trio received its U.S. premiere with James Ehnes and Ani Aznavoorian during the Seattle Chamber Music Festival 2019. Her tireless efforts have received the recent praise of the New York Times who credited her for being an authority on the Romanian composer.
Highlights of the 2022-2023 season includes new releases on Naxos and Centaur records with violist Elias Goldstein and members of the Berlin Philharmonic, and a tour of Norwegian Art Song bringing awareness to the under-represented female composers of Norway. Additional upcoming collaborations include recitals with the concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic Frank Huang, Queen Elizabeth top prize-winner cellist Marcel Kits, violist Ettore Causa, violinist Eugene Tzikindelean, and Canadian Brass and Takacz quartet members in Costa Rica, Mexico, Argentina, Romania, Germany, and the United States.
An activist, Angela has participated and curated numerous humanitarian and educational programs with organizations such as the Refugees International, the Bill Gates Foundation, and the Francis Walton Foundation bringing awarness to global crises and social injustice. Angela is the co-artistic director of the newly founded concert series Women Who Score promoting works by female composers, in collaboration with Olympic Gymnast Nadia Comaneci.