Eastman trumpeters Andrew Psarris, Michael Kent, Steve Felix, Dovas Lietuvninkas, Samuel Huss
Last weekend, March 19 through 21, I had the sincere honor of competing in the National Trumpet Competition with my fellow trumpet players. Every year we go down to this competition and we do well — but most important, we have a lot of fun. It is spring break, part II. This year Eastman had two trumpet groups, three trumpet soloists, and one jazz alumnus competing.
This year the competition was held at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. When one conjures up images of a trumpet convention, no doubt the phrase “Hello, my name is … I’m better than you”, or the bleak picture of hearing a million double high Cs, come to mind, but it is actually a wonderful experience. You get to meet new people from other studios and build connections with people you would normally never see again. Combine those experiences with seeing some of the greatest trumpet talent in the form of concerts, master classes, and lessons, and all of the sudden the picture doesn’t look too bleak.
The Eastman picture wasn’t too bleak either. While both trumpet groups made it to the semi-final rounds, we had two students — Steve Felix (a second year master’s trumpet player and good friend of mine) and another new friend, Shawn Williams, a former ESM jazz trumpet player — make it to the finals. Steve Felix came away with the first prize in the graduate division, making this the second year in a row Eastman School has won that category, and the third year in a row we’ve had a winner. Shawn Williams also took third place in the jazz division, with a performance that was spectacular to witness.
Overall this experience was a win for the Eastman trumpet studio, and the Eastman School of Music in general.
— Andrew Psarris, ‘15
Two trumpet prizewinners: Eastman master’s student Steve Felix and alumnus Shawn Williams