VCU trumpet players invited to international event

By Michala Smith
University News Services

Virginia Commonwealth University’s trumpet ensemble members from the Department of Music will play at the Trumpet Guild Conference this month.

The conference will be held at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and enlists the world’s top trumpet performers. Hosted annually, members gather to see and hear the latest techniques and advancements from trumpeters around the world.

“This is a great honor,” said Edward Richardson, assistant professor of trumpet and jazz trumpet. “It’s a chance to catch-up with old friends, meet new ones and see what musicians are doing in the field.” 

The five-day conference enables performers and ensembles to gather for concerts, courses, workshops, competitions and networking. Richardson will be among the performers at the event. He will be accompanied by VCU’s trumpet ensemble, which will be performing a prelude for Richardson’s piece.

According to Richardson, the selection process for this event is competitive. Candidates are required to submit a recording for judging. Upon approval, bands are placed into a spot to display their talent. For solo performers such as Richardson, the guild solicits their talents.

“It is a pleasure to watch them mature as musicians,” said Richardson. “As they learn, their relationships begin to deepen with each other and the music.”

Aside from this event, the VCU Department of Music’s trumpet players have been making strides throughout the trumpet-playing community. Recently, players attended the 2007 National Trumpet Competition at George Mason University. Participants included Alex Samawicz, college division; Jared Broussard, graduate division; Marcus Tenney and Matt Wittig, jazz division; Eric Blanks, Cole Baty, Jared Broussard, Rob Quallich, Samawicz, and Wittig, trumpet ensemble; and John Mlynczak and Allyson Keyser, two VCU alumni in the graduate division. Of these performances, Tenney took third place for the jazz division. 

“I was pleased,” said Richardson. “They played well and learned a lot.”

In the coming months, one member of the trumpet ensemble will be graduating. Richardson and the band will host auditions in September.

“Members now critique each other and point out mistakes,” said Richardson. “When students are able to coach themselves and see their own mistakes, then they are becoming musicians.”

VCU’s Department of Music allows students to pursue studies as vocalists, educators, instrumentalists and chamber musicians. With more than 300 enrolled, students can choose from degrees in jazz studies, music business, music education or performance. For more information, visit www.pubinfo.vcu.edu/artweb/music/.