March 2012 Winner: Anne Linebarger

Congratulations to our March 2012 Young Artist Award recipient, Anne Linebarger from Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Anne is a sophomore trumpet student at Tahlequah High School under the direction of her band directors Josh Allen and Justin Frazier; she serves her high school as principal trumpet of the wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and marching band. As a sophomore this year, Anne works with the sixth-grade music students at Tahlequah Middle School during the school day, teaching daily music fundamentals classes and working individually with thirty beginning trumpet students.

 

 


While only fifteen years old, Anne already enjoys many successes on the trumpet. She is co-principal trumpet of the Tulsa Youth Symphony Orchestra and has played with the Northeastern State University Trumpet Ensemble. In the summers, she has been principal trumpet of the honors band at the University of Arkansas Summer Band Camp and has also participated in the University of North Texas Jazz Camp. In 2011, she was one of eight trumpet players selected nationwide to compete in the Junior Division of the National Trumpet Competition in Washington, DC.

In addition to her musical activities, Anne is a member of the National Honor Society and takes a full load of advanced academic courses. Next year, she plans on attending the regional center of the Oklahoma School of Mathematics and Sciences to take AP Calculus and Physics courses. She is also a member of the varsity tennis team, where she placed third in the state at #2 doubles her freshmen year.

Anne was nominated by her current trumpet teacher Jason Dovel, assistant professor of trumpet at Northeastern State University. During the past two summers she has participated in masterclasses with Rex Richardson, Amanda Pepping, Peter Wood, Jason Bergman, and Oscar Passley. Her future plans include a career in music performance.

October 2011 Winner: Alex Wilborn

Congratulations to our October 2011 Young Artist Award recipient, Alex Wilborn from Baxter, Tennessee. Alex is a senior at Upperman High School where he performs as section leader and soloist of the Symphonic Band under the baton of Director of Bands Kyle Netherton, who states: “Alex is a highly motivated young man who takes on any challenge with great zeal and a maturity level not commonly found in students his age. His tireless work ethic and dedication to music have already opened the door to potential future success in our art.” Alex has appeared as a soloist with his high school band performing memorized renditions of Méndez’s La Virgen de la Macarena and Philip Starke’s Manhattan.

 

In 2008, Alex was first chair trumpet in the Tennessee All-State Band and in 2009 performed as lead trumpet for the All-State Jazz Ensemble. Since his freshman year Alex has been consistently selected as principal trumpet in numerous regional and university music festivals and honor bands. During the 2010 school year, Alex performed at the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts festival as a recital soloist and lead trumpet for the symphonic and jazz ensembles. 2011 was a rewarding musical year as well for Alex, with a first place win in the University of Kentucky solo competition and a scholarship to attend the Sewanee Music Festival. Alex has performed in masterclasses with Anthony Plog, Phil Collins, Michael Ellzey, and the Brass Quintet of the United States Army Band in Washington, DC.

In addition to his trumpet activities, Alex plays in the high school percussion ensemble and is learning secondary wind instruments under the supervision of his band director. During the rest of his busy day as a high school senior, Alex can be found in numerous honors classes and is a member of the chemistry club.

Alex studies privately with Charles Decker, Tennessee Tech University professor of trumpet and TTU’s Director of Jazz Studies Chris McCormick. He plans to hit the audition trail this year pursuing a major in music education. As our October 2011 Young Artist Award winner, Alex Wilborn will receive a one-year complimentary membership in ITG.

June 2011 Winner: Ryan Gilbert

Congratulations to our June 2011 Young Artist award recipient, Ryan Gilbert from Owosso, Michigan. Ryan graduates this month from Corunna High School where he performed as principal trumpeter in the marching band, symphony, and jazz bands under the direction of Mark Sopjes.

Ryan began studying the trumpet at age eleven with the guidance of Corunna Middle School music teacher David Lea. During the summers of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades he attended Michigan’s Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp performing in the concert and symphonic bands. As his interest in music making grew, Ryan began his private studies with Richard Illman, professor of trumpet at Michigan State University, and during his early high school career became a founding member of the Spartan Youth Wind Symphony as well as a participant in the Michigan All-State Band and Orchestra.

During the summers of 2008 through 2010 Ryan participated in the Grand Valley State University International Trumpet Seminar performing in masterclasses with internationally-re nowned artists including Mat thias Kamps, Zhonghui Dai, Erd en Bilgen, Vince DiMartino, and Rex Richardson.

Ryan has been a member of the trumpet section of the Flint Youth Symphony throughout high school and was a semi-finalist in the high school solo division of the National Trumpet Competition.

Outside of his numerous music commitments Ryan was a member of the Corunna High varsity tennis and bowling teams while maintaining a rigorous load of advanced academic courses.

Ryan was nominated for the YAA by his current teacher and mentor Richard Stoelzel. Professor Stoelzel praises him for his professionalism, dedication to his music making, and outstanding character. Ryan will attend Grand Valley State University in the fall of 2011 majoring in music performance. Ryan thanks his mom and dad, Tim and Sue Gilbert, for their support, guidance, and great personal influence. As our June 2011 Young Artist Award winner, Ryan will receive a one-year complimentary membership in ITG.

March 2011 Winner: Leah Reber

Congratulations to our March 2011 Young Artist award recipient, Leah Reber from Rosemount, Minnesota. Leah is a senior at Rosemount High School where she performs as a soloist and section leader in the wind and jazz ensembles as well as the award-winning RHS Marching Band under the direction of Steve Olsen. Mr. Olsen states, “Leah is a remarkable, musically expressive and confident leader, and an outstanding young lady with great depth of character.

In addition to her many accomplishments with the RHS music program, Leah has been selected twice for the Minnesota All-State Band and participated in the University of Minnesota, Concordia College, St. Olaf College, and the Minnesota Band Directors Association Honor Bands. Throughout her high school career Leah has earned 16 superior ratings for solo, duet, and mixed ensemble performances and the annual Minnesota Solo and Ensemble Contests.

During the summer of 2008 Leah had the opportunity to participate in the Minnesota Trumpet Clinic working with MSO Trumpeters Robert Dorer and Charles Lazarus. In 2009 Leah attended the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra Clinic, St. Olaf’s Music Camp, and the Minnesota Trumpet Academy working with Steve Kreisel, Paul Stodolka, and Kelly Rosum. In July of 2010 Leah participated in the Boston University Tanglewood Institute workshop studying with Terry Everson.

Aside from her numerous musical activities Leah is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, volunteers to feed the hungry in her community, and has even worked at the Minnesota State Fair and as an assistant to a tax preparation firm in Rosemount. Amazingly Leah is also a dedicated skater leading her to pass the US Figure Skating Association’s Juvenile Free Skate test in 2008 as well as the Novice test in Field Moves in 2009.

Currently Leah studies privately with Takako Senn and David Baldwin, and plans a career path in music performance. Best wishes for success on the audition trail. Leah will receive a one-year complimentary membership in ITG.

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