Nathan Botts

On February 3-6 the fifth annual IUP TrumpetFest was held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). TrumpetFest 2005 featured student and faculty recitals, and a clinic and recital presented by Nathan Botts.

The Department of Music at IUP has over 350 students, most of whom are undergraduates and music education majors. The Trumpet Studio has 32 students at present and is taught by Dr. Kevin E. Eisensmith and Dr. David Ferguson.

Junior and Senior trumpet majors present recitals throughout the school year, but many choose to perform during the TrumpetFest weekend. Among those presenting recitals this weekend were:

• Jessica Bulebosh (Mt. Pleasant, PA)
• Lynn Burich (Vermilian, OH)
• Heather Crabtree (Connellsville, PA)
• Lee Jordan (Fairmount City, PA)
• Justin Presley (Sunbury, PA)
• Corey Schildkamp (Greensburg, PA)

Drs. Eisensmith and Ferguson presented a recital on Friday evening, featuring the music of Arutunian, Pakhmutova, Albinoni, Balakireff and Arnold. The final work presented was by Dennis Horton and was entitled Proclamation, Psalm and Praise. Dr. Eisensmith was the featured soloist with an accompanying ensemble of five student trumpet players. Dr. Ferguson conducted the ensemble.

Featured guest artist for the weekend was Nathan Botts. Botts is the first trumpet player ever to win both the Classical and Jazz competitions of the International Trumpet Guild. He has performed with Pierre Boulez and the Lucerne Festival Academy (Switzerland), the Spoleto Festival Orchestra (Italy), and the National Repertory Orchestra (Colorado). Nathan studied jazz under the tutelage of Lew Soloff and Byron Stripling at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He was accompanied by Rebecca Wilt, who has served as a staff accompanist at many past ITG Conferences.

High school band directors and trumpet players from area schools were invited to attend, and all events were free and open to the general public.

Link:
Department of Music, Indiana University of Pennsylvania