Ensemble performing in the National Trumpet Competition’s quarterfinals for third year in a row

Ensemble performing in quarterfinals for third year in a row

For the third year in a row, a group from Luther College is competing in the National Trumpet Competition.

The eight-student ensemble competes in the quarterfinals at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas. The performance will be livestreamed at www.nationaltrumpetcomp.org. The semifinals are Thursday evening, March 8, the finals are 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 10, and both events will also be livestreamed.

Luther has had an ensemble advance to the semifinals the previous two years; however, has not yet had a group advance to the finals.

This year’s octet includes senior Liam Fraser; juniors Curtis Cook, Madison Ihde, Sarah Lodge, Chelsey Schmeling and Michael Winkler; and sophomores Chloe Beck and Marya Haugland.

The National Trumpet Competition is open to junior high through graduate-level musicians from all over the country. To apply, ensembles, ranging in size from four-six members in the small division, to seven-10 members in the large division, submit video recordings of their selected piece. To be chosen for the quarterfinals, a panel of well-known trumpet recording artists, professional trumpeters from major symphony orchestras and collegiate trumpet studio professors review the tapes. There are typically between 100-150 submissions in the trumpet ensemble division, with 28 selected to advance to the live quarterfinals.

In addition to the competition, those advancing to the NTC can participate in performances, workshops and clinics.

“Participants at NTC include the finest collegiate trumpeters in the United States. To be invited to compete in any year is an incredibly prestigious honor but to be attending for a third year in a row is really incredible. As their teacher, I couldn’t be more proud and grateful for their hard work and dedication,” said John Cord, Luther assistant professor of music and trumpet ensemble advisor

The ensembles are formed at the beginning of the school year, based on interest. This year’s is the largest ensemble that has competed at the NTC.

The octuplet is performing “Into the Blue,” composed by Kevin McKee. They have performed the piece twice already this year, once at the music department general recital and at a Luther College chapel service. It will also be performed at Decorah High School in February.

A Luther assistant professor of trumpet since 2013, Cord has performed with more than 30 professional symphony orchestras in the United States, including the Dallas Wind Symphony, Fort Worth Opera and the Wringling Brother’s Barnum and Bailey’s Circus Band. He’s also performed with touring Broadway shows such as Cats, Chicago and The Music Man.

Cord earned a Bachelor of Music in trumpet performance from the University of Iowa and a Master of Musical Arts from Yale University School of Music. He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in trumpet performance and jazz studies from the University of North Texas.

Luther is home to one of the largest collegiate music programs in the nation, with six choirs, three orchestras, three bands, two jazz bands and more than 800 student musicians. Luther students participate in large ensembles, faculty-coached chamber groups, private lessons and master classes. Nearly 275 music majors study music theory, ear training, history, education, composition, jazz, church music and performance.