The WCU Trumpet Ensemble recently participated in TrumpetFest, part of Italy’s annual Orvieto Musica festival. Taking part in the trip, from left, were Chris Kristich, Megan Neely, Billy Dellinger, professor Bradley Ulrich, Adam Capps, Rachel Rimmer, Josh Belvin, Brandon Chapman and Kris Bence.

The Western Carolina University Trumpet Ensemble recently participated in an intensive, weeklong program in Italy in connection with Orvieto Musica, an international chamber music festival.

Musicians from around the world gather for the annual, three-week Orvieto Musica festival, where they perform in venues including medieval churches, piazzas and castles. For the first time, this year’s festival included TrumpetFest, which was limited to 20 trumpeters.

During the 10-day trip, WCU’s eight-member ensemble performed three concerts in the hilltop town of Orvieto, participated in daily trumpet classes and rehearsals, and learned “survival Italian.” The students also toured Rome, visiting the Coliseum, the Roman Forum, Vatican City and the Trevi Fountain. WCU helped fund the trip.

“The invitation for our Trumpet Ensemble to participate in TrumpetFest was a big honor, especially because it was the first one,” said WCU trumpet professor Bradley Ulrich, who accompanied the students on the trip, conducted the ensemble, led a trumpet clinic and performed.

Ulrich said the musical and cultural experience was life-changing for his students. Before the trip, only two had traveled outside the United States and four had never flown. “My students were so taken with this trip that they are begging to do another in the future,” he said. Ulrich said he would like to launch a School of Music travel club that would allow students to visit landmarks and attend concerts related to composers they have studied.

Participating students were Megan Neely and Rachel Rimmer, freshmen majoring in music education; Josh Belvin, Kris Bence and Brandon Chapman, juniors majoring in music education; Adam Capps, a senior majoring in music education; Billy Dellinger, a senior majoring in trumpet performance; and Chris Kristich, a master’s student in trumpet performance.

For more information about Western’s trumpet ensemble, contact Ulrich at (828) 227-3274 or ulrich@email.wcu.edu. To learn more about WCU’s School of Music, call (828) 227-7242 or e-mail sfrizzell@email.wcu.edu.

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Last modified Tuesday, July 8, 2008.