October 2011 Winner: Alex Wilborn
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- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2016 05:21
- Written by Jon Kratzer
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
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- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2016 05:19
- Written by Jon Kratzer
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
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- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2016 05:18
- Written by Jon Kratzer
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.
January 2011 Winner: Brittney Self
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- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2016 05:12
- Written by Jon Kratzer
Congratulations to our January 2011 Young Artist Award winner, Brittney Self from Norman, Oklahoma. Brittney is a recent graduate of Norman North High School where she performed in the wind ensemble, jazz band, symphonic orchestra, and marching band under the direction of Trent Davis, David Davisson, and Brenda Wagner. During her high school years, she was also a member of the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, and this past year was invited to play principal trumpet in the annual “Side by Side” concert with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic seated next to principal trumpet Karl Sievers.
Brittney participated in the Oklahoma All-State Jazz and Concert Bands and Or chestra and performed all four years at the state solo and ensemble contest, receiving superior ratings every year. During her senior year Brittney was selected to participate in Macy’s Great American Marching Band in their annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The capstone of Brittney’s 2010 year was acceptance and performing as a semi-finalist at the National Trumpet Competition in Fairfax, Virginia.
This past summer Brittney participated in the Grand Valley State University Inter national Trumpet Seminar in Allendale, Michigan, working with such noted artists as Rex Richardson, Richard Stoel zel, Matthias Kamps, Daniel Patrylak, Britton Theurer, and Gordon Vernick.
Currently a freshman performance major at Oklahoma University, Brittney is a member of the marching and symphony bands and the university trumpet ensemble. Her career goals include studio teaching and a desire to perform with an or ch estra or military band. She would like to thank her parents Dennis and Gaynell Self for their unwavering support of her musical goals.
Karl Sievers, professor of trumpet at Oklahoma University, nominated Brittney stating she is dedicated, hardworking, and expressive while possessing a true love for the art of trumpet playing. Brittney will receive a one-year complimentary membership in ITG. Congratulations!