March 2023 Winner: Joshua Puente
This issue’s featured young artist award winner is Joshua Puente, an eighteen-year-old trumpet player from Marietta, GA. Joshua is currently a freshman instrumental music education and trumpet performance major at Florida State University (F.S.U.) where he studies with Dr. Christopher Moore. While attending Lassiter High School, Joshua was very active in his high school’s music program, serving as the president of the marching band, president of the Tri-M Honors Society, section leader of the trumpet section in the orchestra and ran his high school’s trumpet ensemble. As a high school freshman, he marched with his high school marching band in the 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA. In addition to his high school responsibilities, Joshua was a member of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2021 and 2022. Two highlights from that ensemble were his roles as the cornet soloist in Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet” and assistant principal on “Pictures at an Exhibition,” performing the Samuel Goldberg and Schmuyle solo on piccolo trumpet. He has also participated in the Georgia Music Education Association All State ensembles since his 8th grade year, culminating in principal trumpet in 2021 and 2nd chair trumpet in 2022. Joshua also competed in the quarterfinals of the National Trumpet Competition, performing the first movement of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto in 2021 and the Alexander Goedicke “Concert Etude” in 2022. He is looking forward to competing in the undergraduate solo division quarter-finals at the 2023 National Trumpet Competition performing Charlier’s Solo de Concours. Recently, Joshua earned 3rd place in the F.S.U. Bryan Goff Trumpet Solo Competition.
His previous trumpet teachers were Patrick McAvoy & Dr. Doug Lindsey of Kennesaw State University. Dr. Lindsey says “Joshua has been one of my favorite students because of his awesome attitude and work ethic. He always showed excellent leadership qualities as the top trumpet at Lassiter High School, and he regularly mentored the younger students in his section.” Joshua greatly appreciates the support of his teachers and also credits his father as a major factor in why he is pursuing trumpet as a career. His dad gave him his Bach Stradivarius trumpet when Joshua was in 8th grade and as a Blue Devils Drum and Bugel corp alumni encouraged Joshua to tour with the Phantom Regiment corp in 2022. In summer 2023, Joshua will follow in his dad’s footsteps by marching with the Blue Devils. Joshua also became interested in marching DCI thanks to Jeff Harper, his high school assistant band director, who marched in the Cadets. Joshua was thrilled to perform in a live movie theater broadcast out of Detroit last summer with Phantom and he really looks forward to returning to DCI as a Blue Devil each summer until he ages out.
Joshua’s favorite trumpeters include Maurice Andre and Rafael Mendez. In addition to being passionate about performing, he loves teaching and has ever since he became section leader at his high school and also taught middle school students. Joshua was a dedicated member of the Boy Scouts, gaining his Eagle Scout status at the beginning of the summer of 2022. He also greatly loves the outdoors, especially fishing, hiking and working out. As the March 2023 ITG Young Artist Award winner, he will receive a one-year complimentary membership to ITG. Congratulations Joshua!