June 2008 Winner: Steven Miller
- Details
- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2016 04:48
- Written by Jon Kratzer
It is with great pleasure we welcome Steven Miller as our June ITG Young Artist Award recipient. Steven graduates this month from East Meadow High School in East Meadow, New York. Steven enjoyed a remarkable high school career as a top performer in the jazz ensemble, pit orchestra, wind ensemble, and marching band.
In his recommendation for this award band conductor Stephen Engle states that Steven is one of those rare gems that come along once in a teacher's career and further praises his exceptional talent and fine character.
Steven represented his high school district throughout high school in the NMEA All-County Jazz Ensemble and was principal trumpet in the 2006 and 2007 NYSSMA Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Steven sat principal trumpet in the Long Island Youth Orchestra and the Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts Wind Symphony. The capstone of Steven's high school performance career was competing as a finalist in the President's Own Marine Band Concerto Competition. In February of 2008 Steven won the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition and will make his Carnegie Hall debut as guest soloist with the orchestra on June 6, 2008.
As conscientious in his academics as with his music, Steven is president of the Science Honor Society, a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, and the Math Team. He is a recipient of the 2007 Rensselaer Medal for Math and Science Achievement and has been awarded a $60,000 scholarship.
At press time Steven had narrowed his college choices to three schools and is interested in double majoring in engineering and trumpet performance. In recognition of his outstanding talent, ITG will provide Steven with a complimentary one-year membership. Bravo Steven!
March 2008 Winner: Kristen Wall
- Details
- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2016 04:45
- Written by Jon Kratzer
Please welcome Kristen Wall as our March 2008 ITG Young Artist Award winner. Kristen is a senior at Century High School in Rochester, Minnesota, where she performs in the Century Symphonic Winds, the orchestra, marching band (as the section leader of 35 trumpets), and jazz band-all under the supervision of band director Levi Lundak. She also sits in with a professional jazz band called Swing Street. Her private teacher is Warren Bandel, also of Rochester, Minnesota. In his recommendation for this award, Bandel writes enthusiastically about Kristen's character. “I just can't say enough good things about her. She is what every student should be-she works hard, has fun playing the trumpet, and leads by example.”
She is a two-time Minnesota All-State member, last school year as a member of the All-State Orchestra and this year in the All-State Symphonic Band (2nd chair). She is also a member of the Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestra. Currently, Kristen is working hard for state solo contest, at which she will be playing the Arutunian Concerto.
Kristen is also an accomplished pianist, and puts those skills to work at her church where she accompanies the K-2 children's choir. Other church activities include teaching Sunday School and playing on the church women's volleyball team.
As conscientious with her academics as she is with her music, Kristen has been the student-of-the-month in music, math, and Spanish and is in Who's Who Among American High School Students, the National Society of High School Scholars, the National Honor Society, Outstanding Students of America, a National Merit Commended Scholar, and an AP Scholar.
At press time, Kristen has narrowed her college choices to three schools, where she intends to continue her trumpet studies but will concentrate on elementary education, international relations, and Spanish. Kristen is the daughter of proud parents David and Janet Wall.
In recognition of her outstanding talent, ITG will provide Kristen with a complimentary one-year membership. Congratulations, Kristen!
January 2008 Winner: Case O'donnell
- Details
- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2016 04:44
- Written by Jon Kratzer
The January ITG Journal Young Artist Award recipient is Case O’Donnell, a senior at Olympia High School in Orlando, Florida.
At Olympia High, Case is principal trumpet in the wind ensemble and lead trumpeter with the top jazz band. Throughout his middle and high school years Case has been a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association All-State Bands as well as the Orange County Honor Band. Additionally, he has received superior ratings at both district and state solo and ensemble festivals since the 8th grade. Repertoire from these occasions has included the Goedicke Concert Etude, the Hummel Trumpet Concerto, and Oskar Boehme’s Concerto in F Minor.
Case performed as lead trumpet in the 2007 Florida All-State Jazz Band, and later that summer after rigorous auditions, O’Donnell was selected to perform as lead trumpet in the top jazz band at the first annual Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band Camp in Los Angeles, California. His summer continued with music as a camper at the Cannon Music Camp held on the campus of Appalachian State Uni–v–ersity in Boone, N.C. During that time, Case performed with the wind ensemble and symphony orch–estra, and as lead in the jazz band.
Aside from his musical activities Case volunteers with his church youth group, coaches middle school band students, and belongs to the Olympia High School Beta Club—a service organization that promotes developing leadership roles and community service projects. Case also enjoys golf and football, and is an excellent bowler in his leisure time.
O’Donnell’s career goal is to become a professional musician and to perform in the Los Angeles music industry. Currently he studies trumpet with John Almeida, professor of trumpet at the University of Central Florida. Congratulations and best wishes for a successful future career in music!
In recognition of his outstanding talent, ITG will provide Case O’Donnell with a complimentary one-year membership.
October 2007 Winner: Colton Crandell
- Details
- Published: Saturday, 17 December 2016 04:42
- Written by Jon Kratzer
Colton Crandell of Centennial, Colorado, is the recipient of the October 2007 ITG Young Artist Award.
Colton has just completed his senior year at Arapahoe High School under the direction of Edward Cannava and has had a busy and productive high school music career. During his junior and senior high school years Colton was the principal trumpeter in The Warrior Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Pep Bands, Pit Orchestra, and Symphonic Orchestra. He also performed on cornet with the Dry Creek Dixie Dawgs, a traditional Jazz Combo that has won three Downbeat Awards.
Highlights of his many honors include his selection to the 2006 and 2007 Colorado All State Jazz Bands and Symphonic Bands. This past year he was named principal trumpet of the Continental League Orchestra in conjunction with appointments in the University of Colorado All State Orchestra and Honor Band. Mr. Crandell has the distinction of being only one of four Arapahoe music students to have been selected for all of these groups during his high school career.
As a soloist Colton has received the Superior rating at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest during all four years in high school. As a scholastic standout Colton has maintained a high grade point and received the Academic Letter for Excellence in his junior year while balancing a full schedule of activities in bands, orchestras, pep groups, study time, private lessons, and numerous weekend commitments. His senior year culminated with two prestigious awards; the Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence and the Outstanding Senior Award for 2006 - 2007 at Arapahoe High School.
Dr. Cannava hails Colton as "a highly dedicated young man, serious, positive, compassionate, focused, and committed to excellence in both his music and personhood. A student every teacher dreams of having in their program!" Tireless in his dedication to music and the Arapahoe High School Band Program, Colton is also recognized as a fine role model for other music students and the school at large.
Colton Crandell is now in his first semester as a music performance major at The University of Colorado in Boulder in the studio of Professor Terry Sawchuck. Congratulations to Colton for this recognition as October ITG Young Artist, 2007. Best wishes to him in his future musical endeavors and continued efforts to be a role model for other young trumpeters.
In recognition of his outstanding talent, ITG will provide Colton Crandell with a complimentary one-year membership.