Isaac Herrenbruck is one of 91Classical’s inaugural Student Composer Fellows, studying vocal music. Get to know him with these six questions.

Vocal music fellow Isaac Herrenbruck is a pianist, trombonist and choral singer. The high school senior has enjoyed composing brass chamber music to perform for friends, as well as jazz and funk arrangements for his jazz band. He has also arranged a hymn for his church choir. Isaac also sings with Nashville Notes and is in his second year teaching music theory for the program.

What is your instrument, and what made you choose it?

I play piano, trombone, and I sing. I started playing piano when I was 4 because it was required by my parents, and I am glad that that is something they required of me. I picked up trumpet for four years before trombone because that is what dad played and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. I switched to trombone about three years ago when a friend let me borrow a spare trombone and a method book. I started singing in a non-audition choir because mom was the accompanist, and, after enjoying singing in that choir for a year, I auditioned for a much more intense choir, which I have been in for four years.

What do you listen to for fun?

I listen to all sorts of music. I like big-band jazz because of the tight harmonies, especially Maynard Ferguson’s band. I enjoy funk because of the crazy rhythms and hard melodies like what Brian Culbertson, Wayman Tisdale and Earl Klugh do. I enjoy classic rock because that’s what dad introduced me to when I was very young. I like good country, like Chris Stapleton and Kenny Chesney, because that is what we would listen to when we went boating. I like hip-hop because of the deep bass and the up-tempo beats. And I like Jacob Collier, who is a genre of his own, because of his rich harmonies and crazy rhythms.

Who is a composer who has influenced your music?

Jacob Collier has had a large influence on my music with his dense chords and negative harmony ideas. Also, a lot of impressionistic composers like Debussy and Ravel have influenced me. Bach played a huge part in the very beginning of my compositional education. Ginastera’s harmonies have always intrigued me.

What are your other hobbies outside of music? 

I enjoy mountain biking, hiking, swimming, reading, sitting in my hammock and cooking.

What do you think you want to do for a career?

I would like to be an engineer with a focus in acoustical design of spaces.

What is your #1 most favorite piece of classical music and why?

It is very hard for me to answer these types of questions. Different days, different opinions. However, I really like Ginastera’s Danzas Argentinas, especially No. 2, which I am playing on piano right now. I like Respighi’s Pines of Rome. I also like George Gershwin’s Prelude No. 1, the first of which I played a few months back, and also of course his Rhapsody in Blue.