Tour Infographic: Aurum Sonor in Costa Rica

Tour to Costa Rica 2025

An interactive infographic of the activity report of the Aurum Sonor Brass Quintet.

Why tour a brass quintet in Costa Rica?

To inspire, share, and enrich perspectives, by holding masterclasses, concerts, and collaborations with other Costa Rican cultural institutions. Additionally, it seeks to motivate young musicians and the artists themselves.

Quintet performing in the Indigenous High School of Boca Cohen, Cabecar Tjai Territory. This was the first instrumental concert ever in this community.

Meet the Quintet

Founded in 2022 at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, USA, Aurum Sonor is comprised of five dedicated musicians from Tennessee covering four centuries of musical repertoire. This international tour to Costa Rica marks a milestone in their career, focusing on cultural and educational exchange.

Jed Edmondson

Trumpet

Founding member, currently in his third year at APSU and an active freelance trumpeter.

Dylan Thompson

Trumpet

Award-winning graduate student, with experience in competitions and international tours.

Emily Sholar

French Horn

Recent APSU graduate, will continue her master's at the prestigious Jacobs School of Music.

Savanna Watson

Trombone

Holds bachelor's and master's degrees from APSU, and is preparing for a second master's in Ethnomusicology.

Zackery Marhover

Tuba

Tuba student at APSU and a versatile bassist, active in the Nashville music scene.

Cultural Management and Interinstitutional Link

M.M. Ariel G. Sequeira Méndez

Professor: UCR Caribbean Campus and E.M.M. Goicoechea

Tubist, educator, and cultural manager. Graduated with honors from Austin Peay State University (M.M.) and from the most important musical institutions in Costa Rica (UCR, INM). He was a member of Aurum Sonor Brass Quintet from 2023 to 2024 and advocates for developing and collaborating as part of his professional goals.

Tour Impact in Figures

1600

People Benefited

355

Reach in the Central Caribbean

1245

Reach in the Central Valley

Regional proportion

The tour had a significantly greater reach in the Central Valley, as shown by the distribution. This is due to logistical reasons, more days were scheduled in this region.

Reach by Community

Filtre por región para explorar las comunidades específicas donde se realizaron las actividades.

Tour Timeline

Saturday, May 17

Start of activities in the Caribbean with masterclasses and concerts at the UCR Caribbean Campus and in downtown Limón (next to Chocolatería G&E).

Masterclass by Savanna Watson with the trombones of the Pre-University Music Program of the Caribbean

Concert at Chocolate G&E, downtown Limón

Monday, May 19

Outreach day in rural and indigenous communities, with concerts at the Boca Cohen Indigenous College and Gavilán Vesta Rural High School.

Concert at Boca Cohen Indigenous College, Tjai Territory

Concert at Gavilán Vesta Rural High School, Valle la Estrella

Tuesday, May 20

Collaboration with national institutions: rehearsal with the National Band of Cartago and an interactive recital with the National Institute of Music.

Dr. Robert Waugh and maestro German Paniagua rehearsing with the National Band of Cartago

mily Sholar giving a masterclass for the French horn studio at the National Institute of Music

Interactive concert with ImproBrass at the INM

Wednesday, May 21

Academic exchange at the School of Musical Arts (UCR), including rehearsals, masterclasses, and a joint concert with the School's Brass Ensemble.

Trumpet studio of maestros Luis Miguel Araya and Jairo Vega receiving a masterclass with Robert Waugh.

EAM Brass Ensemble with Aurum Sonor

Friday, May 23

Double presentation in Paraíso de Cartago, collaborating again with the National Band of Cartago in concerts for day and evening high schools.

Joint concert with the National Band of Cartago at Paraíso Day High School

Concert at Night School, reinforcing the brass section of the National Band of Cartago. div>

Saturday, May 24

Day focused on the community of Goicoechea, with masterclasses for the Municipal School of Music and a general rehearsal with the community's Centenary Band.

Jed Edmondson giving a masterclass to the trumpet chair of the EMMG

Rehearsal for joint concert with the Municipal Band of Goicoechea

Sunday, May 25

Tour closure with fundraising activities for the School of Music and a closing tour concert with the Municipal Band of Goicoechea.

Concert at Centenario Park, Goicoechea for the benefit of EMMG

Final tour concert with the Municipal Band of Goicoechea.

Leaders and Collaborators

Drs. George and Sharon Mabry

Key Sponsors and Donors

Retired professors from the APSU Music Department, Drs. Mabry are renowned art philanthropists. Their dedication to music education and cultural promotion has been crucial, providing generous support that was fundamental for the realization of this tour. Their legacy continues to enrich artistic and educational opportunities.

Dr. Robert Waugh

Associate Professor of Trumpet, APSU

Supervising professor of the Quintet, in addition to being a university professor, he directs the trumpet and commercial music ensembles. He is an accomplished soloist, active musician in the popular and classical music scene of Nashville, central Tennessee, and Kentucky. Waugh is a Conn-Selmer brand Artist/Clinician.

Austin Peay State University Music Department

Austin Peay State University (APSU), founded in 1927, is one of the most important teaching institutions in central Tennessee. As part of the College of Arts and Letters, it is a space of musical excellence, education, and human formation that prepares its graduates for successful careers, generating a significant impact in their respective fields globally.

Coordination of Social Action, University of Costa Rica

The activities in the Caribbean part of this tour were managed through the Coordination of Social Action of the University of Costa Rica. This coordination's main function is to link the university with society, promoting projects and programs that address community needs and foster cultural, scientific, and educational exchange.

National Band of Cartago and National Directorate of Bands

Key logistical and musical collaboration in the successful realization of concerts for the Cartago community, including rehearsals and concerts with the Band of this province.

Municipal School of Music of Goicoechea

Scheduling of masterclasses and joint activities with the quintet, including concerts with their Municipal Band, fostering local musical learning and the cultural development of the canton.

School of Musical Arts (EAM) and School of General Studies (UCR)

Beneficiaries of masterclasses and collaborative activities. Under the management of Ricardo Cambronero, a joint concert was held with the EAM Brass Ensemble, enriching university music education and motivation in the brass chairs.

National Institute of Music (INM)

Beneficiary of masterclasses and joint activities with the quintet, supporting the development of young musical talents in Costa Rica. The interactive recital included the ImproBrass Quintet.