National Trumpet Competition Recognizes Five Young Musicians (Left to right) Band seniors Emma Ellis and Ella Martling, band sophomores Thu Dang and Michael Feuerborn, and band freshman Mathew Harper qualify for the National Trumpet Competition (NTC) with the help of artist-in-residence Veselin Bozhilov (third from the left). Photo courtesy of Veselin Bozhilov
Five of the 40 students recognized for the high school soloists division of the nation’s largest trumpet competition are from Dreyfoos. These five students will compete for a spot in the semifinals, which would allow them to advance and possibly win up to $2,000.
In March, band seniors Emma Ellis and Ella Martling, band sophomores Thu Dang and Michael Feuerborn, and band freshman Mathew Harper will go on to the live round of the National Trumpet Competition (NTC) at the University of Colorado Boulder. There, they will be able to attend masterclasses, network with trumpet professionals, and watch ensemble and solo performances ranging from other students in middle school to graduate divisions.
“(It is the) official trumpet nerd fest,” NTC competition coordinator Dr. Carrie Blosser said. “It’s awesome to get together with other people who practice the trumpet, finding students that are your age who are also committed the same way.”
Click the link below to read about the preparation behind submitting to the National Trumpet Competition.
spotlights
Thu Dang
Every time that I’ve made it (to NTC) before, because of COVID-19, it’s been canceled. Now that I’m going in person, I feel like it’s the real deal now. Because you’re going. You’re going to Colorado. You’re going out of state. (I) never really imagined it.”
All these players that you’ve never heard of are extremely good, and you get to hear how they play. It’s an out-of-world experience to see all these people. When you’re good at something, there’s always someone better than you, and when (I) go there, I feel like I’ll truly see how well these players play from all over the nation.”
Last year, I was all very new to it (NTC). I’d never gone to a competition on a national level, so it was very nerve wracking. Now I feel a little more prepared as I know what's gonna go down.”
My trumpet teacher Vesko (Bozhilov) has given me two lessons a week, and he'll give me coaching on every little thing that I have trouble with, and he'll really definitely give me a lot of positive input to prepare myself.”
I think it (NTC) definitely gave me that confidence to even try to apply for Juilliard because a few years ago, the idea of auditioning for Juilliard was hilarious to me. Making it to the national level gave me the confidence to push myself to audition to such an amazing school of music.”
(My piece is) ‘Variations on a Theme from Norma.’ ‘Norma’ is an opera piece, and it takes (the beginning of this) beautiful opera, and then it varies it. I really like listening to Maria Callas and her interpretation of it and trying to play it that way.”
Doing something this prestigious one year is great, but I feel like being able to continue each year to make it is a bigger accomplishment. My first year (making it to NTC was) sophomore year, but I was virtual. My junior year, which was last year, (was) kind of eye-opening … to see all these musicians. I feel like this year I'm really prepared as to what's actually going to happen, and I feel like it will give me a bit of an advantage because I know what goes on (and) what to expect.”
I was over the moon (when I found out I qualified) because I had two mess ups in my recording that I thought needed to be perfect. Not one cracked note. Not one squeak. I was ecstatic, especially seeing who I made it with.”
The name of my piece is ‘Concert Etude,’ which (is) not really a standard, but it's a very well-known piece. It's a technical piece. It starts off fast. It has a lyrical section, it takes off again, another lyrical section, and then it really drives until the end.”
I made the semifinals of the junior solo division seventh and eighth grade year. What I'm most excited for (this year) is seeing all the great players. It's such a friendly environment.”
I want to keep playing trumpet because I just love music, and I want to recreate the beauty that I hear when I listen to music.”
My song is called the ‘Grand Russian Fantasia.’ One of the things that made me want to play it was that I heard the great trumpet player Wynton Marsalis play it, and that really made me want to play (the piece) and play like him.”
Bozhilov is a professional trumpet player who has been an artist-in-residence at Dreyfoos since 2005. He prepared all five students for NTC through regular private tutoring sessions after school. Occasionally helping out at Bak Middle School of the Arts, he has tutored two of the five students who qualified for NTC this year since middle school and another two since elementary school.
Martling, who has worked with Bozhilov since seventh grade, feels like he has watched her “grow up.” Others share similar sentiments and all attribute their knowledge of NTC to him.
While he thinks that practicing their pieces for NTC is important, Bozhilov’s goal at school and private lessons is to “create a better environment for them (the students) to really understand the music completely.”
“He pushes all his students to be as best as they could possibly be,” Feuerborn said. “He's very realistic with the comments he makes. He really helps us focus on what to work on and how to work on it to get the best results.”
Dang also commented on Bozhilov’s teaching style, which she thinks helped her improve tremendously.
“Vesko (Bozhilov) is a really tough teacher, but he’s only doing it to help you. If you’re not too good today, he might humble you a bit, but it makes you motivated. I’m really glad for him. He prepares you for everything. He challenges you.”
Bozhilov attributes much of the students’ success in their growth and qualifying for competitions, such as NTC, to his colleagues.
“I'm really appreciative of my colleagues. (Band director) Evan Rogovin working with them every day in the band and Wind Ensemble, (orchestra director) Jeffrey Adkins working with them in the Philharmonic, and Chris (jazz director Christopher De León) working with them in the jazz band. I prepared them specifically for those (NTC) pieces, but those gentlemen contribute quite a lot to the success of those students on a daily basis as well. Bravo to the whole team at Dreyfoos.”
Bozhilov finds joy in challenging the students, watching them grow in the process of practicing in and out of the classroom.
“Even if they don't proceed any further, making it to the top 40 and five of 40 (students) being from Dreyfoos is already a big success,” Bozhilov said. “I’m really proud of them.”
Writing by Yelaine Aguilar, photos by Aiden Velez, video by Dieunise Pacius