MCPASD Students Qualify for the National Trumpet Competition

January 20, 2019

Middleton HS Trumpet Ensemble Students Advance to the Pre-College Ensemble Division for the 2019 National Trumpet Competition in Lexington, KY

The Middleton High School Trumpet Ensemble is comprised of six student musicians will compete against eleven other pre-college ensembles March 14-16 at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, marking the inaugural appearance of a Middleton High School trumpet ensemble performing at a national competition.

A panel of professional trumpet players selected the MHS ensemble in January based on an unedited video of their performance. MHS made the final cut of the top twelve performers in their respective division. Student ensemble members are sophomore Alex Ashley; senior Abby Burns; junior Kyra Ginsberg; senior Ben Petersen; senior Rachel Roberson; and senior Alexis Stahnke.

Led by Halie Brown, the ensemble will perform “An Olcott Overture!” by Eric Ewazen. From the composer: "An Olcott Overture! is dedicated to my friend and publisher of several of my trumpet ensemble works, James Olcott. Stylistically and harmonically, the piece shows my Eastern European heritage, with rhythms that are in mixed meters and a texture which is gutsy and rustic. The bright, brilliant sound of the trumpet is yet another inspiration to me, with the sound of resonant fanfares and rich chords creating a heroic and celebratory sound."

Among the other ensembles represented at the 2019 competition are groups form Kentucky, Texas, Florida, Washington, Oklahoma and Maryland.

Best of luck to all the MCPASD students who will compete in the National Trumpet Competition in March 2019 at the University of Kentucky!

To learn more, please visit the National Trumpet Competition website.