Tarleton Advances to National Trumpet Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 3, 2017
STEPHENVILLE, Texas—For the second straight year, Tarleton State University’s trumpet ensemble has advanced to the prestigious National Trumpet Competition (NTC).
Tarleton’s ensemble—five student musicians—will compete against 29 other colleges and universities March 22-25, at Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colo., marking only the second time any Tarleton music ensemble has advanced to the final round of a national competition.
Led by assistant professor of trumpet Dr. Brian Walker, the ensemble will perform “Contrasts for Five Trumpets” by Anthony Plog. Student ensemble members are junior music education major Akira Okamoto of Frisco, Texas; junior music education major Tim Wilson of Midlothian, Texas; junior music education major Tember Lowe and senior music performance major Matt Daigle both of Dickson, Okla.; and senior music education major Olivia Perkins of Denison, Texas.
A panel of professional trumpet players selected the Tarleton ensemble in December based on an unedited video of their performance. Tarleton made the final cut of the top 30 performers out of more than 100 entries. Tarleton’s undergraduate ensemble will compete against other teams made up of graduate and doctoral students. Tarleton is also the only Division II school represented at this year’s NTC.
Among the universities represented at the 2017 NTC are Arizona, Michigan, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas Tech, New England Conservatory of Music and South Carolina.
“Tarleton’s trumpet ensemble will compete against ensembles from music schools whose reputations are world-class,” Walker explained. “It is an honor to be held in that regard and a wonderful opportunity for these Tarleton students to be heard on the same stage. These students who wish to pursue a graduate degree have a stage to be noticed by these excellent programs as well. It’s truly a unique opportunity.”
For more about bands and select ensembles at Tarleton, visit www.tarleton.edu/band.
Tarleton, a member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven educational experience marked by academic innovation and exemplary service, and dedicated to transforming students into tomorrow’s professional leaders. With campuses in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian and online, Tarleton engages with its communities to provide real-world learning experiences and to address societal needs while maintaining its core values of integrity, leadership, tradition, civility, excellence and service.
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Contact: Kurt Mogonye
254-968-9460
[email protected]
