Cole Bartels
bio
A native of Moorhead, MN, Cole Bartels is a genre-bending trombonist currently based in Madison, WI. At time of release, he is the Low Brass Instructor at Concordia University, an indemand freelancer of all styles around the Midwest, and educates high school and middle school low brass musicians. On any given day he can be found playing salsa in a night club, providing music for worship, performing in a symphony orchestra, teaching private lessons, or any other setting where one might hope to encounter a trombonist. As a classical artist, Bartels has committed himself to the performance of contemporary music, especially focusing on works by American composers and those from historically under-represented communities. His extensive solo and chamber commissioning projects have helped to expand the repertoire for trombone. Bartels holds degrees in trombone performance from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Concordia College (Moorhead, MN), with additional certifications in jazz studies and music theory pedagogy. Previous teachers include Mark Hetzler, Dr. Alex van Duuren, Dr. Nat Dickey, and Dr. Ed Huttlin.
albums
All Semantics (II)
On the Brink
Audiogenica
store
Jewel case with 6-panel insert liner notes.
"On the Brink" features nine works for trombone, all of which were written by composers whom I personally know. Seven of the pieces you will experience on this album were commissioned by myself. In many ways, this album encapsulates much of the work that I’ve been involved in over the last decade as a student in higher education. It is my hope that this album can serve as both a way of preserving this diverse body of compositional work, and as a means to expose this amazing music to a wider audience.
4 panel digipak with art by Adam Smith and design by Alex Ring Gray.
Formed in 2021, the Beltline Bones have quickly established themselves as a unique and engaging voice within the world of classical chamber music. Consisting of tenor trombonists Cole Bartels, Justin Coyne, Zach Bethel, and bass trombonist Adam Nissenbaum, the group combines the traditional idiom of trombone quartet with their interests in new music and electronics, and offer a unique and thought-provoking listening experience unlike any other.