I've never been to an ITF, so I don't know what to expect. This year it's in London, Ontario, and I'm thinking of making the trek. But I'm not sure what to expect, and I don't see on the website what I'd be looking for. Perhaps my expectations are completely wrong.

Is it all lectures, concerts, and vendors? Are there opportunities to play or perform? The thing I would love most would be opportunities to perform with greats (and not just in ensembles backing them up), but they don't appear to have anything like that. A jam session with big name jazz players would be heaven, but I don't see that anywhere. And the opportunity to hang and talk with heavy hitters doesn't seem to be a thing.

As for the performers listed, there appear to be 15 classical, 7 jazz, and a few early/experimental/various. Other than our own Max and Tiffany, and Christian Lindberg and Alain Trudel, there don't seem to be any I'd be really excited about hearing. Certainly I don't see any jazz performers I'm excited about, but then I don't know most of them. Where are the heavy hitters? Couldn't get even one of them?

Regarding presenters -- which I take to mean lectures -- there is very little of interest to me, and none that I go, "Wow! I must see that one!"

And I'm sure there are a gazillion exhibitors wanting to sell you stuff, but they don't list any of them (yet?).

Frankly, after a 30-year break in playing, I was hoping I'd get to play with greats, have an opportunity to show off a little and get some exposure, or workshop stuff I'm trying to improve on. I don't see any of that. It appears geared toward teachers and community players, with passive learning and no chances to play. In fact, there seems no reason to even bring a horn.

Have I got it about right, or have I missed something big and important?

There are usually participant trombone choirs that are the real venue for participants to play. There are usually nightly jam sessions as well that people can play in, as well as hangs (if possible) to rub shoulders with the greats.

Yes, it is pretty student/educator focused, because that is the main driver of trombone in the modern age. It's why I choose not to go unless it's close by.

You will have fun in almost any recital- some of the stuff I attended in 2017 and 2023 with no expectations were the best ones.

Much of the fun is hearing trombonists you've never heard of and being completely blown away, not the big name recitals.