Leittermoes Duo is a dynamic collaboration between trumpeter Nairam Simoes and oboist Kristin Leitterman, both faculty members at Arkansas State University. Formed through a shared commitment to artistic excellence and musical exploration, the duo brings together two distinct instrumental voices in a compelling and rarely heard combination.
Their work focuses on expanding the repertoire for trumpet and oboe through innovative programming, new commissions, and thoughtful arrangements. Drawing on diverse musical influences, including Brazilian music, contemporary works, and established chamber repertoire, the duo creates performances that are both engaging and stylistically versatile.
Recent and upcoming engagements include a featured performance at the 2026 International Trumpet Guild Conference, a recital at the 2026 International Double Reed Society Annual Conference, and a Brazil tour with a recital in João Pessoa, Paraíba. The duo has also presented performances and residencies at the University of Missouri Kansas City, University of South Alabama, Louisiana State University for the IDRS Midsouth Regional Chapter Symposium, Northwest Mississippi Community College, and Northeastern State University in Oklahoma.
As educators and performers, Simoes and Leitterman are dedicated to connecting with audiences and students alike. Their performances highlight expressive nuance, clarity of ensemble, and a deep sensitivity to musical storytelling. In addition to concert appearances, they are active in commissioning new works and collaborating with composers to further develop the artistic possibilities of their unique instrumentation.
Leittermoes Duo continues to build a distinctive presence in the chamber music world, combining technical precision with a shared musical vision that emphasizes creativity, communication, and artistry.
Their work focuses on expanding the repertoire for trumpet and oboe through innovative programming, new commissions, and thoughtful arrangements. Drawing on diverse musical influences, including Brazilian music, contemporary works, and established chamber repertoire, the duo creates performances that are both engaging and stylistically versatile.
Recent and upcoming engagements include a featured performance at the 2026 International Trumpet Guild Conference, a recital at the 2026 International Double Reed Society Annual Conference, and a Brazil tour with a recital in João Pessoa, Paraíba. The duo has also presented performances and residencies at the University of Missouri Kansas City, University of South Alabama, Louisiana State University for the IDRS Midsouth Regional Chapter Symposium, Northwest Mississippi Community College, and Northeastern State University in Oklahoma.
As educators and performers, Simoes and Leitterman are dedicated to connecting with audiences and students alike. Their performances highlight expressive nuance, clarity of ensemble, and a deep sensitivity to musical storytelling. In addition to concert appearances, they are active in commissioning new works and collaborating with composers to further develop the artistic possibilities of their unique instrumentation.
Leittermoes Duo continues to build a distinctive presence in the chamber music world, combining technical precision with a shared musical vision that emphasizes creativity, communication, and artistry.
Dr. Kristin Leitterman is a solo artist of oboe and voice who defies convention by bringing exciting and unusual programs to audiences. She has commissioned and performed works for oboe and voice by Michael-Thomas Foumai, Jason Coleman, Whitney George, and Lyle Davidson, appearing in major venues including Carnegie Hall and Jordan Hall, as well as in Spain, Brazil, and Canada. She was awarded the American Prize in Instrumental Performance in 2024.
Currently Associate Professor of Oboe and Assistant Chair in the Department of Music at Arkansas State University, Dr. Leitterman teaches oboe, bassoon, and double reed techniques, coaches chamber ensembles, and coordinates the woodwind area. She also directs the long-running Lucarelli Oboe Master Class, now in its 30th year, a weeklong immersive workshop founded by her mentor Humbert Lucarelli. A sought-after guest artist, she has presented master classes at the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, and the Hartt School, and in 2024 was a featured performer and faculty member at the Festival Internacional Música de Campina Grande (FIMUS) in Brazil. Her publications include Relax and Take a Deep Breath: The Lucarelli Approach to Oboe Playing and Gustave Vogt’s Musical Album of Autographs (both Carl Fischer). A leading scholar on Mary Chandler, her editions of Chandler’s works appear with Clifton Edition. Dr. Leitterman currently serves as President of the IDRS Midsouth Regional Chapter and is a Lorée Artist. |
Originally from Brazil, Nairam Simoes is an award-winning trumpet artist and Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Arkansas State University. His career encompasses international performance, teaching, and leadership in the brass community. A member of NordesTrio, he earned a Silver Medal from the Global Music Awards, won the Championship Section of the 2022 North American Brass Band Association Championship with the Fountain City Brass Band, and placed third at the 2017 National Trumpet Competition.
Praised by the International Trumpet Guild (ITG) for his “virtuosity and musicality,” Simoes has performed throughout the United States, Germany, Austria, and Brazil. He has appeared with numerous ensembles and productions, including the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, and Broadway on Tour productions such as MJ: The Musical. Within the ITG, he serves on the Board of Directors, is editor of the Orchestral Spotlight column in the ITG Journal, and has coordinated the Festival of Trumpets since 2023. He is also a frequent adjudicator for the National Trumpet Competition. Simoes holds a DMA from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a MM from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and a BM from the University of Memphis. He is a proud S.E. Shires Trumpets performing artist. |