Washington Trumpet Guild Festival

Save the date to join us at the 3rd annual Washington Trumpet Guild Festival at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Sunday, April 12, 2026!

• Featured Artists
• Sponsors, Vendors, and Exhibitors

Featured Artist: YOU!

Along with experiencing all the great performances and clinics at the Washington Trumpet Guild Festival, your ticket comes with parts for “Fanfare to the Stars” by Tiffany Johns. This was the featured mass trumpet ensemble at the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Parts are provided for download with your paid WTG Festival 2026 registration. Try out all the parts and pick the one you want to play, bring your instrument, and you can take part in our own mass trumpet ensemble at the 2026 Washington Trumpet Festival!

Brian Shaw

After 15 years in academia as the Julian & Sidney Carruth Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Louisiana State University, Brian Shaw continues to enjoy an international performing career as a modern and historical trumpet artist. He is Co-Principal Trumpet of the Dallas Winds, Principal Trumpet of the Baton Rouge Symphony, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Spire Baroque Orchestra, and is also a regular guest instructor of Baroque trumpet at the Eastman School of Music.

A native of Southeastern Illinois, Brian was first inspired to play the trumpet when he had a front row seat to hear the great Maynard Ferguson in 1988. Mentored in public school by his band director Steven Bell, he first learned to play music by ear from recordings. He later attended Eastern Illinois University (BMus.) the Eastman School (M.Mus), and the University of Texas at Austin (DMA). His trumpet teachers include Parker Melvin, Ray Sasaki, and James Thompson.

At LSU, Brian has taught applied trumpet and jazz lessons, directs the Jazz Ensemble, and leads courses in jazz arranging, jazz history, and Baroque performance practice. His students have won positions with premier military ensembles and symphony orchestras, performed with leading early music ensembles, and have established successful careers as freelancers, public school music teachers, and in academia.

A noted Baroque trumpet player, Shaw’s 2008 recording Virtuoso Concertos for Clarino includes some of the most difficult pieces ever written for the instrument. Early Music America observed: “Shaw’s tone is beautiful, and his playing unfailingly musical… His is a voice that will make a major mark on Baroque trumpet playing.” His 2014 critically acclaimed modern solo trumpet recording,accompanied by the Dallas Wind Symphony and conductor Jerry Junkin, is titled redshift. Brian is currently completing two collaborative recording projects: a collection of classic recital pieces with pianist Jan Grimes, and an album of jazz and pop songs with his wife, Seattle-based singer Lana Van Boven. Future projects include an album of his compositions and arrangements for jazz ensemble and a recording of pieces for unaccompanied trumpet and trumpet ensemble.

As a jazz trumpet player, Brian leads a big band in Baton Rouge, Louisiana every December, which released a holiday-themed album titled Christmas at the Manship! in 2017. Brian continues his work as co-author (with Nick Smart, Royal Academy of Music, London) on a biography of renowned jazz trumpeter and composer Kenny Wheeler, titled Song for Someone, which will be published by Equinox Books, London. His other books and transcriptions are published by Advance Music, Presser, Schott, and Universal Edition. He is proud to be a Yamaha Performing Artist.

Brian lives in Seattle with his wife Lana, his son, Thomas, and his stepson, Elliot.

Amy Boers

Amy Boers is well known as a collaborative pianist, music director, singer, and church musician.

As pianist and collaborator, she currently holds positions at Pacific Lutheran University (staff pianist) and Symphony Tacoma Voices (pianist and assistant rehearsal conductor).  Her work at Pacific Lutheran University is varied between accompanying the acclaimed Choir of the West, accompanying and coaching private voice students, team-teaching numerous theater classes, and most recently she was named Music Director for productions in PLU’s Theater & Dance program, including Amélie, music revues Off Broadway, and When You Wish Upon a Star, and Jasper in Deadland.

Amy is frequently asked to collaborate and perform with world-renown conductors and elite ensembles at NWACDA, Washington ACDA, NAfME, and WMEA conventions. Recent notable collaborations have been with Jason Max Ferdinand, Brian Edward Galante, Jace Saplan, Jonathan Talberg and Rosephanye Powell (Summer 2024).

Amy works as a collaborative pianist with many State Solo & Ensemble winners, both instrumental and vocal. She travels regularly as a collaborative artist with choirs throughout Europe, performing most recently in Portugal, Spain (Symphony Tacoma Voices 2023), Estonia and Latvia (Symphony Tacoma Voices and University of Washington Choirs 2019).

As a conductor, in addition to her music directing, Amy has led regional honor choirs and coached developing choral conductors from across the Western Hemisphere at the annual Cascade Conducting Workshop in Tacoma, WA. As a true collaborative artist known for her deep insight and “getting inside the conductor’s head,” Amy provides feedback through the special lens of accompanist, singer and conductor combined.  She has led pedagogical workshops for choral conductors and collaborative artists regionally and in Canada. Her recent session “The Power of Two” focused on collaborative rehearsal techniques to develop between conductor and pianist. Presented at the 2024 Northwest American Choral Directors Association regional convention, she received rave reviews and requests for repeated presentations.

As a church musician, she has been a long-time voice in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. She has been contributing editor for both the keyboard and choral divisions of the Sundays and Seasons resource published by Augsburg Fortress (now 1517 Media); served on the Board of Directors of Lutheran Summer Music, the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school students; and now acts as an ambassador for the program. Amy has served many congregations since 1995 and is currently serving as Director of Music at Mountain View Lutheran Church in Edgewood.

In addition to her keyboard artistry, she is an active singer both recording commercial music and performing live.  She treasures singing with Musing, a beautiful project-based treble ensemble, as well as her vocal collaborations in the studio with local composers and singers. She is currently in the midst of recording vocal tracks for an upcoming album of new arrangements of traditional gospel songs and hymns, as well as new compositions in this genre.

When not making music, she loves to garden, cycle, and travel with her family. Most important to her at this time is spending time with her three beloved grandchildren, Adler, Jack, and Holden.

Bellissima Brass

Bellissima Brass is an all-women brass quintet from Bellingham, Washington. The quintet’s personnel are Michelle Rockwood (French horn), Karolyn Labes (trumpet), Sarah Viens (trumpet), Amy Kavanagh (tuba), and Emma Eliason (trombone), but Washington Trumpet Guild’s president, Shelly Devlin, will be stepping in for Sarah Viens at WTG Festival 2026, as Sarah has a prior engagement. The ensemble specializes in music for brass quintet by women composers including original compositions and arrangements/transcriptions of music from other repertoires.

Edward Castro, D.M.A.

Dr. Edward Castro has made it his mission to educate and entertain through music. Born New York City, his formative music training started at LaGuardia High School where he was exposed to various forms of classical and jazz music. Ed later studied trumpet at Yale, the Manhattan School of Music, and the University of Washington. As a fan of modern and early classical music, Castro has positioned himself between genres with additional deep interests in jazz and popular music, where these myriad styles influence his compositions. His trumpet instructors include Chris Gekker, Trumpet Professor University of Maryland, Former Member of the American Brass Quintet; Allen Vizzutti, Yamaha Recording Artist; Alan Dean, Trumpet Professor Yale University, Member of the New York and St. Louis Brass Quintets; Tom Smith, New York Philharmonic; and Steven Hendrickson, Principal Trumpet with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Zachary Lyman, D.M.A.

Zachary Lyman is Professor of Music at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), where he teaches trumpet, music theory, directs the trumpet ensemble, coaches chamber music, and performs with the Lyric Brass Quintet. He received the 2017 Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching. Dr. Lyman holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in trumpet performance and pedagogy from the University of Iowa where he was the recipient of the prestigious Iowa Performance Fellowship, the highest award for graduate study. He received the Bachelor of Music degree with honors from the College of Wooster and the Master of Music degree with honors and distinction in performance from the New England Conservatory of Music.

He is active as an orchestral, chamber, and solo performer and has performed with the New England Philharmonic, and the Boston Philharmonic, Cedar Rapids, and Quad Cities Symphony Orchestras. Lyman has also performed as featured soloist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, PLU Wind Ensemble, PLU Symphony Orchestra, the University Chorale, Choir of the West, the Tacoma Community College Orchestra, the Seattle Bach Choir, Brass Unlimited, Brass Band Tacoma, and many others. He plays throughout the northwest as a member of the Seattle-based Mosaic Brass Quintet. He has appeared with the Vashon Opera Orchestra and at the Olympic Music Festival, and plays regularly with Symphony Tacoma, the Tacoma Opera Orchestra, and the Tacoma City Ballet Orchestra. He also serves as Director of the Tacoma Young Chamber Players, the Puget Sound’s premier chamber music experience for high school musicians.

Dr. Lyman’s articles have been published by American Music and the International Trumpet Guild Journal. His trumpet warm-up book Practical Daily Warm-Ups for Trumpet is published by Keveli Music. The Lyric Brass Quintet’s CD, American Music for Brass Quintet, is available from Emeritus Recordings. A second album, featuring the world-premiere recording of Luther: Seven Scenes for Brass Quintet by PLU Emeritus faculty member Dr. Jerry Kracht, was released in October, 2018. Dr. Lyman lives in Tacoma with his wife, son, and daughter. In his spare time, he enjoys trying to stay upright on his mountain bike, and being a disgruntled Red Sox fan. Dr. Lyman is an S.E. Shires performing artist.

Kevin Woods

Kevin Woods has performed with Cuban saxophonist and bandleader Paquito D’Rivera, trombonist Slide Hampton, saxophonists Joe Lovano, Walter Blanding Jr. and Gary Smulyan, trumpeters Bobby Shew, Brian Lynch, Claudio Roditi, guitarist Mike Stern and many others. He has been a member of award-winning and nationally touring musical groups and has performed at numerous national and international music festivals. Woods has been featured in both Downbeat and Jazziz magazines, and in 2007 he participated in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

As an educator, Woods has taught at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Whatcom Community College, Seakyung College in South Korea, and Spokane Falls Community College. He has given clinics and performances at numerous public schools and colleges throughout the US and has served as adjudicator and clinician for many jazz festivals. Currently, Kevin lives in Bellingham, Washington where he is active as a performer, educator and composer/arranger and serves as director of jazz studies at Western Washington University.

Yamaha Artist Kevin Woods’ appearance at this event has been made possible in part through a grant from Yamaha.

https://kevinwoodsjazz.com

Vincent Green

Vince Green is a graduate of WWU, and completed his graduate Masters study at Arizona State University in trumpet performance. While in Phoenix he performed with the Phoenix Symphony, the Symphony Brass Quintet, and as principal trumpet of the Phoenix Chamber Orchestra. Mr. Green is a very active freelance player in the Northwest playing regularly with the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Seattle Opera and the Seattle Symphony. Vince can be heard on dozens of recordings for movies, television and video games. He was first trumpet with the Cathedral Brass of St. James and a member of the Washington Brass Ensemble for more than 15 years. His primary trumpet teachers include Wayne Gorder, Anthony Plog and David Hickman.

Paul Bain

Paul Bain, conductor of the WTG Festival 2026 mass trumpet ensemble performance of “Fanfare to the Stars” by Tiffany Johns, is Director of Bands at Western Washington University. He conducts the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band and teaches courses in conducting.  

Prior to joining WWU, Paul was Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Central Washington University where he led the instrumental music education program and conducted the CWU Symphonic Winds. Under his leadership, the Symphonic Winds performed at the National Association for Music Education Northwest Division Conference as well at the Washington Music Education Association Conference.

Paul taught in public schools for 18 years preceding his appointment at CWU. Most recently, he was band director at Graham Kapowsin High School for 13 years where his ensembles performed at numerous music educator conferences and collaborated with many university and international ensembles, including the Tamana High School Band from Tamana, Japan. Graham-Kapowsin and Tamana became sister bands in 2009 and performed together nine times, three in Japan and six in America.

In addition to his work in the public schools, Bain was the musical director of the South Sound Symphonic Band, principal conductor for the Washington Ambassadors of Music and worked with the Tacoma Youth Symphony. He is a frequent clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator and has conducted numerous honor bands and performances across the country and internationally, including engagements in Japan, England, France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany.

A Pacific Northwest native, Paul grew up in Puyallup, WA and was inspired to be a music educator by many of his music teachers and mentors. His primary conducting teachers are Raydell Bradley and Timothy Salzman. He attended Pacific Lutheran University (BME 1999) and the University of Washington (MM 2009). Paul lives with his wife, Gahee, and their two dogs (Low Rider and Chuchis).

Nathan Fisher

Nathan Fisher’s musical journey began with a home stereo. His father, a professional bass player, fed his imagination with the sounds of artists as diverse as J.S. Bach, Claude Debussy, Wayne Shorter, Frank Zappa, Yes, and Paco de Lucia. Picking up the trumpet at the age of 9, Nathan followed three generations of musicians in his family.

Exposed to classic jazz music through grade school and through local festivals, Nathan dove into the practise of improvisation. His father taught him theory, provided opportunities to hear jazz music in both live and recorded settings, and played duo performances with him in local restaurants and farmers’ markets. These experiences, coupled with those he received in middle and high school band, enabled Nathan to build a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge as well as a confidence in his improvisational abilities.

Pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Central Washington University in Washington State, Nathan gained a greater grasp of trumpet technique and performed in both classical and jazz ensembles. He became a member of the celebrated CWU Jazz 1. During his time at Central, he performed with John Clayton, Dafnis Prieto, and many others. He represented his school at the 10th annual JEN Conference in Reno, Nevada and performed in a studio session on the Seattle radio station KNKX.

While the pandemic interrupted his studies and his performing, Nathan made the most of the time of isolation, producing an album of original music with his father, “Sketches,” under the artist name Sherbet Image. They have since followed this with a second album, “Escalante,” which features more of Nathan’s original compositions. Nathan’s time at the University of North Texas has furnished him with many incredible opportunities. Studying with renowned trumpet player Philip Dizack has expanded his imagination and stretched his musical capabilities. During his time in the One O’Clock Lab Band, Nathan has participated in the recording of “Lab 2024,” performed with such musical icons as Rufus Reid and Michael League, and will soon be attending the 16th JEN Conference in Atlanta, Georgia and contributing to the recording of “Lab 2025.” His time in this highly-regarded ensemble has further developed his group performance skills and taught him to express his own artistic voice courageously.

​As he prepares to finish his studies at the University of North Texas, Nathan Fisher eagerly anticipates bringing his extensive musical training to bear in the worlds of jazz performance and education, contributing to modern music through his ambitious original work and sharing his experiences with the next generation of musical artists.

WWU Trumpet Ensemble

The Western Washington University Trumpet Ensemble are trumpet students studying various styles of small ensemble trumpet literature under the guidance of Vincent Green.

Pierce College Trumpet Ensemble

The Pierce College Trumpet Ensemble comprises trumpet students at the college, studying under Shelly Devlin.