Kennesaw State University hosts the 2026 Trumpet Festival of the Southeast

The 2026 Trumpet Festival of the Southeast (TFSE), featuring acclaimed Guest Artists Ashley Hall-Tighe and Kellin Hanas, was recently held on the campus of Kennesaw State University’s Dr. Bobbie Bailey School of Music, January 16–18.

Assistant Professor of Trumpet and Brass Area Coordinator, Stephen M. Wadsack, served as the Festival Host, along with support from the newly formed Atlanta Trumpet Guild.

The three-day festival began with an opening fanfare, performed by members of the TFSE Board of Directors and special guests: Madison Barton, Michael Brown, Tina Erickson, Adam Hayes, Mike Huff, Cassandra McDonald, Greg McLean, Ryan Moser, Christopher Probst, P. Bradley Ulrich, Stephen M. Wadsack, and Eric Yates. Continuing the evening’s festivities, Ashley Hall-Tighe took the stage as cornet soloist, featured on numerous selections with the Georgia Brass Band (Michael Kobito, director). Wadsack joined Hall-Tighe as co-soloist for a performance of Horovitz’s Concertino Classico, followed by a late-night jam session open to all festival attendees. Hall-Tighe’s captivating performance resulted in a standing ovation and demand for an encore; she obliged, performing the audience-favorite Carnival of Venice.

Throughout the festival’s second day, a warmup class was presented by Madison Barton, followed by various rehearsals and afternoon recitals featuring festival attendees. Masterclasses were also presented by both Kellin Hanas and Ashley Hall-Tighe, each featuring numerous student volunteers who were able to work directly with the artists in a live setting. New to this year’s festival was also an afternoon “Side-by-Side” recital, featuring performances by faculty alongside students from their studios. To conclude the ”Side-by-Side,” Eric Yates conducted the Mass Festival Trumpet Ensemble, featuring over 200 student, professional, and community performers.

Saturday concluded with an opening performance by the Georgia Youth Trumpet Ensemble, a self-managed group of six high-achieving young trumpeters from across the State of Georgia. Following their performance, Kellin Hanas took the stage, backed by her own personal trio flown in from New York City: Aidan McCarthy, bass; Quinton Cain, drums; and Eric Stern, piano. Their performance of mostly original music was well-received by an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. 

Participants also had the opportunity to visit several exhibitors from across Georgia and the United States: Brass Instrument Workshop (Phil Ehrmann), Bob Reeves Brass (John Snell), the Gift of Music (Paul Poovey), Charlie’s Brass Works (Charlie Melk), and Play Better Music (Bill Burkard) were each in attendance, to name a few.

The third and final day of the festival concluded with a roundtable discussion led by the university professors in attendance. Both Hall-Tighe and Hanas were also present, contributing greatly to discussions on mental health, resilience, personal identity, and navigating our relationship with the trumpet. Additionally, a special celebration was held for Professor Brad Ulrich, who recently announced his retirement from Western Carolina University, effective at the end of this academic year. Ulrich first founded the Western Carolina Trumpet Festival in 2003, which later evolved into the Trumpet Festival of the Southeast in 2010. The trumpet community is grateful for his contributions and legacy, which continue to this day in the form of TFSE–the largest annual regional trumpet gathering in the United States.

Thanks again to our TFSE 2026 Event Sponsors: Brass Instrument Workshop, Bob Reeves Brass, the Gift of Music, the ITG Affiliate Chapter Grant, Yamaha, and Bach/Conn-Selmer. Additionally, we would like to thank Stephen M. Wadsack, Festival Host, the Kennesaw State University Trumpet Studio, and the Dr. Bobbie Bailey School of Music, Nathan Nabb, director. (Source: Brandon Hall and Stephen M. Wadsack)

Pictured (L to R): Stephen M. Wadsack and Ashley Hall-Tighe, cornet soloists with Georgia Brass Band

Pictured: Mass Festival Trumpet Ensemble, Eric Yates, Director

Pictured: Kellin Hanas (L), Stephen M. Wadsack (R)