Ben Shaffer, Dr. Kevin Eisensmith, and Cara Dorsett during TrumpetFest 2006

On February 2-5 the sixth annual IUP TrumpetFest was held at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. TrumpetFest 2006 featured student and faculty recitals, and a clinic and recital presented by IUP graduate Benjamin Shaffer.

The Department of Music at IUP has over 350 students, most of whom are undergraduates and music education majors. The Trumpet Studio has 30 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 - all from Pennsylvania - were:

• Robert Bottger, Wilkes-Barre
• Jordan Canner, Pine Grove Mills
• Kyle Fleming, Easton
• Richard Kane, Huntingdon
• Nicholas Oaster, Littlestown
• Eric Pfeil, Johnstown
• Steven Rowland, Monroeville
• Erin Wilson, Bellefonte
• Andrew Woodard, Meadville

Drs. Eisensmith and Ferguson presented a recital on Friday evening, featuring the music of Fitzgerald, Ewazen, Shakov, Plog, and Telemann. The final work presented was by Greg Pascuzzi and was entitled Variations on a Scottish Hymn Tune. Dr. Eisensmith and Dr. Ferguson, along with senior trumpet majors Kelly Deklinski and Brockton Shaffer, were featured on this piece.

The guest clinicians for the weekend were Cara Dorsett and Benjamin Shaffer. Cara Dorsett is a December 2004 graduate of IUP who is currently serving her first year as a high school band director in Chillicothe, Ohio. June 2004 IUP graduate Ben Shaffer is currently a 2nd year graduate student working on his Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance at Ohio University. Together they presented a clinic entitled “Life After IUP.” This clinic gave important information to undergraduate students regarding audition and interviews processes, as well as step-by-step information for preparing résumés and supporting materials. That evening Shaffer presented a recital that featured works by Tartini, Enesco, Haydn and Arutiunian. Dr. Eisensmith joined Shaffer onstage for a performance of Bach’s “My Spirit Be Joyful,” arranged for two trumpets by E. Power Biggs.

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. The IUP Affiliate Chapter wishes to thank ITG for its support for “TrumpetFest 2006.”

Websites:
Music Department, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Kevin E. Eisensmith
David Ferguson