Fall 2012 saw the formation of West Texas A&M University’s first trumpet ensemble for the purpose of competing at the 2013 National Trumpet Competition.
“I had no idea what to expect,” said Preston Beaty, a junior Music Education major. “[I was] really pumped up for music and trumpet.”
The competition also included classes and performances by some of the leading trumpet professionals in the industry, according to Dr. William Takacs, associate professor of Music. Some of those performers included the U.S. Navy band and Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinsen.
“It was a really great experience,” Zane Brown, a junior Music Performance major, said.
WT Trumpet Ensemble’s journey to the National Competition began in December of 2012 when they sent in a video of them performing the piece Conquest to the National Competition. On Jan. 15, 2013 the ensemble was informed that, of the 60 or so groups that sent in recordings, they had been selected as one of the 30 ensembles to perform in the semi-final round.
The semi-finals took place at George Mason University in Washington, D.C. Baylor University received first place with Northwestern University coming in second place and California State University Long Beach rounding out the third place position. Though WT’s Trumpet Ensemble did not place, members of the team still enjoyed the competition.
“I got to see some great performers,” Steve Siegel, a graduate student for music performance, said.
Next year the group intends to add a seventh member to the ensemble and a couple different types of trumpets including a piccolo and a flugelhorn. Currently all members of the ensemble are playing the standard B flat trumpet.
