Ball State Trumpet Festival

On February 1-2, 2019, the Ball State University School of Music and the Ball State Affiliate Chapter of the International Trumpet Guild held its inaugural BSU Trumpet Festival, (Mark Buselli and Stephen Campbell, hosts) featuring guest artist Rex Richardson, international trumpet soloist and Yamaha Performing Artist.

Friday began with Rex conducting an interactive masterclass in which he demonstrated aspects of practice and musical preparation. This class was followed by Rex coaching the BSU Jazz Ensemble 1. After a break for lunch, Rex gave a second master class which began with a coaching of the BSU trumpet ensemble, a group that is competing in the 2019 National Trumpet Competition Large Ensemble Division.


Ball State University Trumpet Ensemble

The master class continued with Chase Malcom performing Arutunian’s Concerto. After a short break, Eric Dickson of Truman State University presented a session entitled, "Mindfulness in Performance" where participants learned skills and techniques for improved mental aspects to musical performance. The first evening concluded with a concert which began with a BSU Student Jazz Combo performing On Green Dolphin Street and Straight No Chaser; Eric Dickson performing Song by Richard Lane; and Stephen Campbell performing Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra by William Perry. After an intermission, Rex Richardson performed Giuseppe Tartini’s Concerto in D Major; Elegy, by Alexander Arutunian, and Rextreme Concerto by James M. Stephenson.


BSU Trumpet Festival Faculty

Day two of the BSU Trumpet Festival began Saturday morning with a masterclass by Rex Richardson where he gave a multi-phonic performance of Blue Monk: worked with Eric Rodriguez performing Telemann’s Concerto in D; Jenna Tribbett performing an etude from the Voxman Collection; and speaking on being successful in the music industry.

After a lunch break, Stephen Campbell presented a session which began with a performance of Petr Eben’s Okna for trumpet and organ with Stephen Price at the organ. The session continued with a performance by a high school student; and a Q&A session about being in the music industry. Campbell’s session was proceeded with a Trumpet Ensemble Prelude with the "Wrecking Crew Trumpet Ensemble" performing a fanfare from Mt. St. Helens Symphony by Alan Hovhaness, arranged by Bradley Fletcher. The following session was an interactive and highly engaging presentation on the fundamentals of jazz improvisation, expertly delivered by Mark Buselli. Mark’s session also began with a Trumpet Ensemble Prelude with, again, the trumpet ensemble performing my heart’s wrecked by Drew Tomasik.

Saturday concluded with another concert beginning with the BSU NTC ensemble performing Infinite Ascent, by Erik Morales; Standchen by Franz Schubert, arr. Powell, and Jules Levy’s Grand Russian Fantasia, performed by Larry Powell of the University of Indianapolis; Anthony Plog’s Scherzo, and A Winter’s Night by Kevin McKee, performed by Anne McNamara of Campbellsville University; and Times Square; New York City, from Michael Daugherty’s The Lightning Fields performed by Stephen Campbell. After the intermission, Rex Richardson took the stage again performing Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in C Major for two trumpets (Rex Richardson and Stephen Campbell, trumpets); Elegy, by Alexander Arutunian; and ended the program with Three World Winds by Allen Vizzutti.


BSU Trumpet Festival Participants

All collaborative pianist needs were performed by the Wrecking Crew’s official collaborative pianist David Mamedov. The BSU Trumpet Festival featured exhibitors including Yamaha; Messina Covers; Powell Trumpets; Muncie Music; and ITG. The festival was made possible with financial support by Ball State University Department of Music, Linda Pohly and the Graduate School, Pickett Brass and Blackburn, and the Craig Campbell Initiative for Musical Excellence. Special thanks to event coordinator Eric Rodriguez, digital media assistance of Drew Tomasik, and the efforts of The Wrecking Crew at Ball State.

(Source: Stephen Campbell)

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