We all had a great time at the inaugural Washington Trumpet Guild Festival, on March 16, 2024. Many many thanks to our gracious hosts at Pierce College Puyallup, everyone who attended and/or donated, our awesome volunteers, the amazing performing groups, the friendly vendors, Al Torres for composing “Evergreen Fanfare and Chorale,” everyone who played in the world premiere of that piece, Dr. Joseph Scott who conducted it, and anyone we may have forgotten to thank. It was truly a day jam-packed with celebration of the Trumpet-Playing Arts.
Featured Artists
Featured Artist: YOU!
Along with experiencing all the great performances at the Washington Trumpet Guild Festival, your ticket comes with parts for “Evergreen Fanfare and Chorale for Trumpet Ensemble” by Al Torres. Pick the part you want to play, bring your instrument, and you can take part in the world premiere of this piece, commissioned by the Pierce College Bands for the 2024 Washington Trumpet Festival!
Puget Brass
Formed in 1999, Puget Brass is a British-style brass band that performs traditional and contemporary literature throughout the greater Seattle area. Puget Brass players volunteer their time and efforts to perform for and educate the general public about the unique sound of traditional British brass band music.
Valhalla Brass
The Valhalla Brass is a professional brass chamber ensemble operating in the Seattle area. The group is focused on performance as well as educational engagements. The quintet is formed by musicians that have performed with the Seattle Symphony, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Auburn Symphony, The Olympia Symphony, North Corner Chamber Orchestra, the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, the Port Angeles Symphony, and the US Navy Band to name a few. Valhalla Brass is comprised of two trumpets, horn, trombone and bass trombone. Valhalla Brass is dedicated to preforming new works as well as classic brass quintet standards with a touch of pops.
https://www.valhallabrass.org/
Olympia Jazz Senators
The Olympia Jazz Senators perform a full range of big band jazz drawn from a vast custom library. One minute you might hear an authentic Glen Miller dance tune straight from World War II. Next could be Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, one of the other current bands, or a cutting-edge new composition by one of the Senators. No matter what the genre, the Jazz Senators present every tune with a twist you will hear from no other band anywhere.
https://www.facebook.com/OlympiaJazzSenators/
Bobby Medina (Clinician)
Originally from Los Angeles, trumpeter, bandleader and composer Bobby Medina has performed with many of the world’s legendary artists and entertainers including Ray Charles, Mel Tormé, The Four Tops, Frankie Valli, the Funk Brothers, Wayne Newton, Wynona Judd, Bob Newhart, Joan Rivers, Jerry Lewis and the Temptations to name just a few.
In addition, he’s performed on numerous touring Broadway musicals, studio recording dates, headlining at festivals and shows with his Latin American Jazz Experience Project and as a guest artist with notable big bands in Europe, South America and across the USA.
Bobby’s global footprint includes performances and masterclasses in more than 20 countries including cities ranging from New York City to Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires to Tokyo.
Drawing inspiration from celebrated teachers including James Stamp, Carmine Caruso, and Bobby Shew, Medina credits their mentorship for refining his playing and deepening his appreciation for the trumpet.
His joy filled masterclasses resonate with trumpeters of all ages and backgrounds, embodying his belief in the transformative power of music to unite and inspire!
Schilke Artist Morris Northcutt
Morris Northcutt is known for his lyricism, artistry, and ability to cross the boundary between classical and jazz, a result of decades of craft with both the trumpet and the cornet. This Global Music Award Medal Winner, and Schilke Solo Performing Artist, has shared the stage with a wide range of diverse performance groups. From Critical Mass Big Band, Mannheim Steamroller, and The Blues Brothers Reunion Band, to Federal Way Chorale, Seattle Symphony Chamber Orchestra and Tacoma Symphony, Northcutt’s list of collaborations is endless.
https://www.morrisnorthcutt.com/
56th Army Band’s Bigfoot Brass Band & Trumpet Ensemble
The Bigfoot Brass Band is a New Orleans style brass band that brings the party everywhere they go. With a high energy and funky groove, this group performs in support of the Soldiers and families on Joint Base Lewis McChord as well as entertaining audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest. This team of troopers has traveled as far as Townsville, Australia where they partnered with the Royal Australian Band entertaining thousands in support of Operation Talisman Saber. The mobility of this group enables them to perform for various parades and street festivals as well as taking the stage in larger venues.
https://www.facebook.com/AmericasFirstCorpsBand/
PLU Trumpet Ensemble
Trumpet players at Pacific Lutheran University are a diverse group of musicians: some are performance majors, others are music education majors, and many are not music majors, but still consider the trumpet an important part of their college experience. Students can take weekly private lessons from Dr. Zachary Lyman, or from our adjunct trumpet professor, Dr. Edward Castro.
Pierce College Concert Band
The Pierce College Concert Band is a student and community wind ensemble based at Pierce College Puyallup. The band is Pierce College’s largest performing ensemble. Students attending Pierce College with any interest in music are encouraged to work with us. The Pierce College Concert Band also has a strong community membership, including musicians with many backgrounds and professions (including professional musicians, students, lawyers, physicians, accountants, teachers, veterinarians, engineers, journalists, nurses, small business owners, military personnel, retirees, and many more).
https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/music-band
Shelly Devlin
Shelly Devlin received her Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance and Education from the University of Iowa and her Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Washington. She currently serves as adjunct trumpet instructor at Pierce College in Puyallup, Washington. Since 2000, her private studio, Shelly Devlin Brass Studios, has taught 70 trumpet, French horn, trombone, and baritone students per week. Shelly’s students have seen successful performances at recitals and statewide music festivals, and many of her students have had the honor of being accepted into All State, All Northwest, local youth symphonies, and college music programs. Shelly has served as brass coach and clinician to Northwest Washington area schools, adjudicated Solo and Ensemble Festival for the Washington Music Educators Association, taught High Brass Techniques to undergraduate music majors at the University of Washington, served as brass coach for the Kitsap Youth Philharmonic, and conducted Brass Camps throughout the Puget Sound region.
An active performer, Shelly currently plays trumpet with the Bremerton West Sound Symphony, the Evergreen Brass, the Choppers Brass Quintet, and the Choppers Brass Trio. Shelly’s solo appearances include Telemann’s Sonata for piccolo trumpet andHandel’s Messiah with the Bremerton West Sound Symphony; Vincent Persichetti’s The Hollow Men with the Pierce College Orchestra; Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez for flugelhorn with the Evergreen Brass; Piazzolla’s Libertango, Shelly’s own composition “Psalm Fanfare”, Morricone’s Gabriel’s Oboe, Clarke’s Maid of the Mist, Gillie’s Song for the Lost on the Marysville Chamber Music Series; and McKee’s Centennial Horizon and Turrin’s arrangement of Gershwin’s Someone to Watch Over Me with the Pierce College Concert Band. Shelly formerly served as a trumpeter with Navy Band Northwest and has been sponsored on several solo tours to the Midwest. Current projects include a commission for a new trumpet and piano work by composer Gina Gillie.
Northwest Brass Choir
Northwest Brass Choir (NWBC) is a brass and percussion ensemble in Seattle for student musicians. We rehearse weekly and have three concerts during the academic year. We play music written for brass and percussion as well as arrangements of orchestral literature.
Northwest Brass Choir grew from idea to reality over the years we’ve spent running Brassapalooza, the Pacific Northwest’s premier summer brass chamber music camp since 2005. Brassapalooza focuses on large mixed-instrument brass choirs, like-instrument choirs, and smaller mixed-brass chamber ensembles. We felt a need to keep that going all year long at a high level, and to challenge young players to go musically above and beyond.
NWBC empowers young brass and percussion players to play and perform at a high level of musicianship, and serves as a pathway for them to transform into strong, creative, confident musicians, as they perform music that may not be available to them in a band or orchestral setting.
Northwest Brass Choir welcomes members of all backgrounds, religions, gender identities, and races and expects all members to help foster a welcoming and respectful musical and professional environment in which we all can thrive.
https://northwestbrasschoir.com/
Al Torres (Composer)
Al Torres, composer of “Evergreen Fanfare and Chorale for Trumpet Ensemble,” our world-premiere mass trumpet ensemble piece, concluded a remarkable 24-year career with the U.S. Army, serving notably as principal and senior euphonium soloist for The United States Army Field Band in Washington D.C. and The U.S. Military Academy Band at West Point, New York.
An alumnus of the Eastman School of Music, Al refined his artistry and musicianship, mastering a broad repertoire that spans classical, contemporary, jazz, and wind music. His time at Eastman also provided Al the opportunity to grow as a performing musician, touring internationally with the Eastman Wind Ensemble.
Al’s academic pursuits did not stop with a degree in music; he also holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Warner Pacific University, an M.B.A. from Marylhurst University, and an M.Ed. from Moreland University.
Originally from Brownsville, Texas, Al now calls Friday Harbor, Washington, home, where he lives with his wife, Jennifer Torres. Currently, he enriches the minds of young students as a full-time Spanish and Multilingual Learner teacher at Lopez Island High School. While teaching language, Al continues to share his passion for music by teaching, arranging, composing, and performing when opportunities arise. Al Torres’s journey is a testament to his dedication to service, education, and the arts, reflecting a life led with purpose and passion.
Sponsors, Vendors, and Exhibitors
Braw Brass Eclipse Trumpets (Vendor)
BRAW adj. (Scot.) Fine; splendid.
Founded in 2005 by Don Cornelius, Braw Brass is the oldest US distributor of Eclipse instruments & located just minutes north of Seattle, WA. Braw Brass has been a vendor at the Northwest Brass Band Festival, North American Brass Band Association events, as well as International Trumpet Guild conferences.
Don is originally from Scotland and has played trumpet since he was 10 years old. He currently plays an Eclipse cornet in a British brass band.
Ted Brown Music (Vendor)
Ted Brown Music is the Pacific Northwest’s preferred destination for all things music. We have a wide selection of instruments, accessories, and gear; anything you might need for your next project. This is what we do every day, but it’s not who we are. At our heart, Ted Brown Music exists to make more music makers.
The Mighty Quinn (Vendor)
Named for the Bob Dylan tune, The Mighty Quinn (formerly Quinn The Eskimo) has been serving the musical community through the sale of vintage and other fine musical instruments since 1998. They are proud to now also offer brand new instruments and musical accessories to serve your needs. They are fully authorized dealers for Conn-Selmer, Yamaha, KHS, Antigua Winds, and more!
https://www.brassandwinds.com/
ChopSaver (Sponsor)
Like notes in a scale, ChopSaver is a harmonious, healing blend of natural anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, and pain relievers.
The “Core Seven” are extracts of aloe, arnica, calendula, comfrey, white willow, ginger, and raspberry leaf.
Combined with moisturizers like shea butter, mango butter, avocado oil, and castor oil, they create a uniquely soothing, comforting lip balm giving relief that’ll make you sing “Ahh!”
S.E. Shires Co. (Sponsor)
S.E. Shires Co. fabricates, assembles, and finishes every trumpet onsite in its Massachusetts factory with meticulous care. S.E. Shires makes beautiful instruments, built to last for many years.