THE FRANK ROSOLINO SCHOLARSHIP/JAZZ TROMBONE (1998)

The International Trombone Association's 1998 Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship/Jazz Trombone, was awarded to Mr. Antii Rissanen of Kotka, Finland, at the 27th International Trombone Festival, The University of Colorado, Boulder, CO (May26-30). In addition, Mr. Rissanen was the recipient of The Bach Award (a Bach Stradivarius tenor trombone) by the Selmer Company, Inc.,and a special cash award of $800 from the Frank Rosolino Memorial Fund, Inc., which was co-founded in 1994 by Conrad Herwig (New York free lance trombonist) and Professor Emeritus Eugene E. Grissom, University of Florida.

Prior to winning the Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship Mr. Rissanen had graduated from the Music-Academy Classical Piano Department and a Jazz Program in Sibelius- Academy of Music in Helsinki, Finland. He recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the Hans Eisler Hochschule Fur Musik in Berlin. During his studies in Germany he was a member of the All State German Jazz Orchestra (Bujazzo), Berlin Radio Rias Big Band, United Jazz Band Berlin, and in Finland, Radio UMO Jazz Orchestra.

He was awarded two Honor-stipendiuim from the Finish Cultural Association and nominmated Best Player of the Imatra Big Band Festival (1995). His own quintet called Mr Fonebone completed its first CD this past year. Currently Antti Rissanen is working as a free-lance trombonist/arrangerin Germany and Finland.

During the International Trombone Festival at the University of Colorado, Antti was featured with his quintet from Finland at the Walnut Street Jazz Club and on the closing night of the Festival he led off a special jazz showcase and shared the stage with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band Trombone section(Robin Eubanks, Dennis Wilson, Steve Turre, Douglas Purvience), Jim Pugh, Hal Crook, and Juan Torres.

Professor Emeritus Eugene E. Grissom is co-sponsor of the Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship along with the International Trombone Association and is currently serving on their Scholarships, Awards, and Prizes Committee. He is Executive Director of the Frank Rosolino Memorial Fund,Inc., and a member of the Southern Arts Federation Advisory Panel. Mr.Steve Meyer, St.Joseph, Missouri, a finalist in the 1998 Frank Rosolino Memorial Scholarship Competition was a special guest at this years International Trombone Festival having won the Don Beyer Incentive Award. In addition, he received a $100 cash prize from the Frank Rosolino Memorial Fund,Inc., and a packet which included the CD "Fond Memories of Frank Rosolino" DTRCD-113, and the transcription/ photo booklet from Double-Time Records.

Prior to the Rosolino Scholarship Competition Mr. Meyer Won the Star Scholarship given at Missouri State College and was voted Most Outstanding Solo Trombone Performance at the Mobile, Alabama Collegiate Jazz Festival. He also received special recognition for Outstanding Musicianship at the Mobile Jazz Festival, and Kansas Jazz Festival (big band) and special recognition for Outstanding Musicianship at the Kansas Jazz Festival for Jazz Combo.

**(All news releases will be forwarded for publication to the following: Jazz Times, Internatinal Association of Jazz Educators, Coda Magazine, International Association of Jazz Record Collectors, American Federation of Jazz Societies, Sinfonia Magazine, Jazz South/Southern Arts Federation, The Network/Kenton Newsletter. Also Jazz Club newsletters: Sunshine Jazz Organization/Miami, Jazz Society of Pensacola Florida, Central Florida Jazz Society, North Central Florida Jazz Society, and Gainesville Friends of Jazz and Blues.