March 2025 Winner Steven White

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Published: Monday, 17 March 2025 03:00

Written by Joseph T Walters

Steven White

Seventeen-year-old trumpet player Steven White is this issue’s featured Young Artist Award winner. Steven was born in American Fork, Utah, and soon after moved to Boise, Idaho, where he is currently a senior attending Timberline High School. He is very active in his high school band program, serving as section leader, principal trumpet in both concert and marching bands, and lead trumpet in the jazz band. Timberline band director José Rodríguez has praised Steven’s abilities, saying, “Steven plays with a level of musical maturity rarely seen in a student his age, and his contributions have been central to the growth and achievement of each of the ensembles with which he has played. He has really turned a lot of heads and will continue to do so.”

Although Steven began playing trumpet in fifth grade, he initially wanted to play trombone. After getting the instrument names mixed up, he was too afraid to speak up. It seems to have all turned out for the best, though, considering the impressive list of musical accomplishments that he has accumulated as a trumpet player. These recent achievements include receiving first place in the Idaho State Solo and Ensemble Festival for the past two years; being selected to the 2024 NAfME All-Northwest Honor Band in Bellevue, Wash­ington; earning a place in the Idaho All-State Band and Orchestra for three years in a row, including a principal position in 2024; being selected as principal trumpet of the Idaho Orchestra Institute; and winning the Boise Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition with a performance of the Haydn Concerto, including his own improvised cadenza. Additionally, Steven performed in the 2023 and 2024 live rounds of the National Trumpet Competition and advanced to the semi-final round in 2024. He also earned the position of lead trumpet in and toured with the Madison Scouts drum corps for the 2024 season.

Over the past five years, Steven has studied trumpet with Dr. Zachary Buie, assistant professor of trumpet at Boise State University. Steven regards his study with Dr. Buie as the number one key to his success because it inspired him to enter the competitions and other musical endeavors that have pushed him out of his comfort zone and no doubt led to the many great things he has accomplished so far in his musical life. Looking to the future, Steven plans to pursue music as a trumpet performance major and continue marching drum corps every summer with the Madison Scouts.

Steven’s favorite trumpet players include Alison Balsom, Wynton Marsalis, and Arturo Sandoval. Outside of his musical pursuits, Steven also enjoys playing chess and folding origami. As the March 2025 ITG Young Artist Award winner, he will receive a one-year complimentary ITG membership. Congratulations, Steven!

January 2025 Winner - Adrianna Dick

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Published: Thursday, 16 January 2025 12:46

Written by Sarah Elizabeth Herbert

Adrianna Dick

This issue’s featured Young Artist Award winner is Adrianna Dick, an eighteen-year-old trumpeter and 2024 graduate of Bryan Station High School (BSHS) in Lexington, Kentucky. At BSHS, Adrianna was a principal trumpet in the symphonic band and lead trumpet in the jazz band. As a versatile brass musician, she also played horn and baritone in the concert band. Her leadership extended to serving as drum major for the marching band her senior year and performing as a featured soloist in their halftime show. Additionally, she played in the pit orchestra for the school’s productions of Once Upon a Mattress, The Music Man, and Guys and Dolls. Her entrepreneurial spirit shone through when she started a brass quintet during her junior year, for which she arranged music frequently. Although the group started playing concerts for local middle schools, they soon became an award-winning quintet, winning second prize in the Macauley Chamber Music Competition during Adrianna’s senior year.

Adrianna’s determined spirit resulted in musical achievements that extend well beyond her high school band program. In 2023, she was selected for the prestigious Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts for Instrumental Music. During her senior year, a competitive audition resulted in her performing as principal trumpet in the 2024 MFA Honors Band of America, a Yamaha-endowed chair. Adrianna referred to this opportunity as, “The best musical experience of her high school career.” She also participated in the University of Kentucky (UK) Honors Wind Ensemble, where she served as principal trumpet of the top band. Her involvement in the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestra’s Jazz Repertory Orchestra and the Jazz Arts Orchestra, along with serving as lead trumpet in the KMEA All-State Jazz Band for two consecutive years, underscores her young talent.

In the fall of 2024, Adrianna began pursuing a music education degree at the University of Kentucky, studying with Jason Dovel and Abby Temple. As a future music educator, Adrianna hopes to provide the same kind of support that her band directors did for her, shaping lives for the better.

Her favorite trumpeters are Alison Balsom and Mary Elizabeth Bowden, and Adrianna also enjoys drawing, sewing, and most of the arts. As the January 2025 ITG Young Artist Award winner, she will receive a one-year complimentary ITG membership. Congratulations, Adrianna!

October 2024 Winner: Stefan Gjorgiev

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Published: Saturday, 05 October 2024 03:32

Written by Anne K. McNamara

Stefan Gjorgiev

This issue’s featured Young Artist Award winner is Stefan Gjorgiev, a seventeen-year-old trumpet player originally from Macedonia, who currently lives in Velika Gorica, Croatia. Stefan is in his third year of school at Velika Gorica Artistic School, called “Franjo Lučić,” and currently performs as principal trumpet in his school’s orchestra.

Since 2017, Stefan has been studying trumpet with Tomislav Spoljar, who is a professional trumpeter, pedagogue, and artistic director of the Heavy Metal concert cycle and the Velika Gorica Brass Festival. Stefan is very grateful to Professor Spoljar for doing so much to help Stefan succeed. His recent successes include winning the grand prize in the Power Sunrise International Competition in Skierniewice, Poland, in April 2024; winning all of the regional competitions in Bulgaria and Lithuania; and taking second prize in the Ictus International Music Competition in 2020. He also competed in the Youth Senior Division of The Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition at the 2024 ITG Conference and won third place. His first major win was in a Bulgarian competition, which he won at twelve years old. In addition to studying with Spoljar, Stefan has taken lessons with such trumpeters as David Baldwin, Mary Elizabeth Bowden, Vincent DiMartino, Jason Dovel, Reinhold Friedrich, Gerassimos Ioanidiss, Yigal Meltzer, Sergei Nakariakov, Tamas Palfalvi, Anthony Plog, Peter Wood, and Allen Vizzutti.

One could say that playing trumpet is in Stefan’s blood; his grandfather was solo trumpet in Skopje Philharmonic Orchestra, and his father is also a musician and amateur trumpet player. Stefan is grateful for the support of his parents, particularly due to the financial support necessary to purchase equipment for and travel to various performance opportunities. He plans to study trumpet performance at a European university and hopes to one day make a career as a trumpet soloist. In addition to his teachers and his family, Stefan feels very appreciative for the support of Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces, especially John Snell, who made a point of working closely with Stefan to get him what he needed, and of Hub von Larr, who gave him a professional trumpet. Kostja Avsec, the Slovenian representative for Buffet Crampon and the Brasseraj company in Croatia have also been very generous with their support of Stefan to help him with equipment needs and advice. Stefan’s favorite trumpeters are Sergei Nakariakov, Giuliano Sommerhalder, Miles Davis, and Clark Terry. Stefan also enjoys listening to all types of music, including R&B and pop, and likes to play basketball with his friends. As the October 2024 ITG Young Artist Award winner, he will receive a one-year complimentary ITG membership. Congratulations, Stefan!

June 2024 Winner: Oliver Lampson

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Published: Monday, 20 May 2024 10:50

Written by Anne K. McNamara

This issue’s featured young artist award winner is Oliver Lampson, a 17-year-old trumpet player from Houston, Texas who is going to begin his senior year of high school at Clear Lake High School this coming fall. Oliver currently performs in his high school’s wind symphony, symphony orchestra and jazz band and performs in the Houston Youth Symphony.

Oliver had an early start in music, first learning piano before briefly picking up the trumpet in 3rd grade and then the saxophone. In 5th grade, he became dedicated to the trumpet and began to take off in his studies thanks in large part to the support of his trumpet teacher, Roman Jakubas. Before even beginning high school, he was on a path of success thanks to the support of his middle school teacher Rick Brockway and Clear Falls High School band director Brian Moreno who also introduced Oliver to Mr. Jakubas. In 8th grade, he won the junior division of the Houston Brass Band competition and he began playing solo cornet with the group in 9th grade. Most recently Oliver won the Houston Brass Band’s Bridget Jenson award and performed the solo, Song and Dance by Philip Sparke with the band in fall 2023. Speaking of competitions, Oliver won spots in the Texas Music Educator Association’s All State Symphony Orchestra in 2022 and 2023, he performed in the AFA Texas Symphony Orchestra and Brevard’s Concert Orchestra and Wind Ensemble in summer 2022 and in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) in the summer of 2023. Additionally, Oliver won 1st place in the National Trumpet Competition High School Division in 2023. A highlight for him in these experiences was getting to play principal trumpet on the NYO’s commissioned piece, Giants of Light by Valerie Coleman. Another favorite opportunity was when Oliver got to perform in side-by-side concerts with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra as part of the Houston Youth Orchestra in spring 2023 and 2024. He was also a participant at the Chosen Vale Trumpet Seminar and Eastman Trumpet institute in summer of 2023. Additionally, Oliver was nominated by the Virtuoso International Music Awards to attend a gala concert in Salzburg, Austria in fall 2023.

Oliver’s goal is to major in trumpet performance at a university and to one day perform in a symphony orchestra and teach trumpet. He has been inspired by his trumpet teachers, Roman Jakubas and Richard Harris of the Houston Symphony, whom he has been working with since 2021. Oliver is grateful for the opportunity to learn from both teachers, not only about technique and musicianship, but also how to adapt in ensembles and how to teach. Additionally, he is very grateful for Greg Goodman who is the Fine Arts director for his school district for his generous support. Mr. Goodman invited Oliver to perform at his home church and helped him reserve the church space for audition recordings and he also got him the opportunity to perform the national anthem at an Alumni event. Rich Harris, speaking very highly of his pupil and his many successes says: “He has a very clear path ahead of him and as his teacher I feel compelled to give my highest ever recommendation to this outstanding young man.”

Oliver greatly enjoys watching his teachers perform and frequently attends Houston Symphony Orchestra concerts. He loves Giuliano Sommerhalder’s solo recordings and has felt that the beautiful tone quality of Phil Smith and Michael Sachs have greatly influenced him. In addition to playing trumpet, Oliver has begun teaching trumpet privately to some middle school trumpeters and he enjoys playing sports such as spike ball and pick-up basketball and football and going to the beach with his friends. As the June 2024 ITG Young Artist Award winner, he will receive a one-year complimentary membership to ITG. Congratulations Oliver!