In Spring 2014 there were three student graduates from the MIC trumpet studio, all of whom performed in the annual Spring studio recital.

Julian Newman, who started trumpet in 5th grade in group lessons at Baker Demonstration school, is now attending University of Wisconsin- Madison. While at E.T.H.S., Julian performed with the ETHS Marching band, Symphonic, and Jazz bands as well as for the “Yamo” Production in his senior year.

Jerry Sun is attending University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He performed as a member of the MIC trumpet quartet for several years, and as Principal Trumpet with the New Trier Chamber Orchestra in his senior year. Here is a link to his performance of the first movement of the Kent Kennan Sonata for Trumpet from the 2014 Spring MIC studio recital.

Michael Werner, currently a Junior at Evanston Township Highschool, studied at MIC for about 10 years, performing in the advanced ensemble by 7th grade. He is now concentrating on Jazz performance, and has been extremely active, taking part in some of the top jazz programs in the country, including Birch Creek  and the Vail Jazz workshop which wrote the following about Michael:

MICHAEL WERNER, 16, Trumpet | A native of Evanston, IL, Michael picked up a trumpet at six and focused on classical playing, adding jazz to his repertoire six years later. He has played with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and with a variety of other award-winning big bands and combos at various venues and competitions. Michael has also toured France and the Netherlands with Midwest Young Artists playing in a brass ensemble, symphony orchestra, big band and combo configurations. He was awarded Outstanding Soloist at the Purdue Jazz Festival, Evanston Jazz Festival, and New Trier Jazz Festival. He won first prize in the Billy Strayhorn Composition Competition held by the Music Institute of Chicago, where he also won a merit scholarship. Michael is also involved with outreach community service for the Music Institute of Chicago. He enjoys playing many styles of jazz and lately has gravitated to hard bop and modern playing styles. Michael especially likes the playing of Woody Shaw, Clifford Brown and Vail Jazz Workshop alumnus (2000) Ambrose Akinmusire. He looks to the Vail Jazz Workshop for learning a lot of new tunes, going beyond bebop, and absorbing everything he can from the Workshop’s first-string students and instructors.

All three of these students can be found in the photo below – in their formative years! Congrats to all our MIC Grads! Please keep in touch!!

I want to first offer my apology to those who offered information on the musical activities from the past academic year. I am finally able to start working again on the MICTpts blog site and have lots of great news to share from our alumni and current students. Starting with:

Last academic year I received news that both Sawyer Lindland and Katy Rose O’Brien were performing leading roles in ensembles at their colleges. I wonder what they are doing this year?!

Enjoy pictures of Katy Rose (click here to see her MIC graduation post) with the Amherst College Symphony Orchestra performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony, and Sawyer Lindland (click here to see Sawyer’s MIC graduation post) performing Principal Trumpet with the Beloit Wind Ensemble:

Congrats Katy Rose and Sawyer!! Please stay in touch…

MIC Trumpet Studio Student News

ETHS Senior Julian Newman, member of the ETHS Wildkits Marching band, was selected to perform for the Annual “Yamo” Production at the ETHS Theater. Click here for schedule.

ETHS Freshmen Abby Gilliland and Noah Roth, also members of the ETHS Marching Band, will play together this year in the ETHS Jazz Lab Band. In addition to playing trumpet, Noah plays guitar, drums, and dabbles in songwriting.

New Trier Senior Jerry Sun will be playing principal trumpet with the New Trier Chamber Orchestra for a program including  Mendelssohn Hebrides Overture and Beethoven Symphony #5. Concert is Nov. 5, 7:30pm at Gaffney Auditorium.

Jack Fay (former BFB student) and Will Donovan, both 5th graders at Walker Elementary School have been selected to play with the Chute Middle School Band.

Highcrest Middle School 5th grader Noah Frankel was selected to play with the Highcrest Chamber Band.

MIC Advanced Trumpet Ensemble member Filip Czarkowski plays first chair in the McCracken Symphonic Band which has been selected to perform at the 2013 Midwest Clinic at McCormick Place West (Dec. 18th). On October 17th, Filip’s band will perform with Axiom Brass. Filip has played in the Polish Parish Band for 3 years, and this year has been selected to perform with for the 2013 IMEA Honors Band.

Northside College Prep Freshman Victoria Seliger (MIC Advanced Trumpet Ensemble member) plays solo cornet with the Advanced Band. This past summer she attended the Blue Lake Arts Camp (MI) performing in the top band. She will be performing for the upcoming school musical.

Michael Werner, Sophomore at Northshore Country Day School,  traveled to Paris and Amsterdam this summer to play both jazz and classical trumpet with Midwest Young Artists. Michael also played with the NU Summer jazz band under the direction of Chris Madsen and attended the BirchCreek Jazz Festival in Door County, WI where he performed in the top big band and the top combo, The Ambassadors, that traveled throughout Door County playing at various venues – restaurants, parks, and private parties. This year he is playing with MYA’s top jazz combo, the Merit Combo, which performs in the greater Chicago Area. Enjoy the photo below of Michael performing in Paris.
Alumni News (The tale of two marching bands)

Loyola grads Robert Murphy and Alex Wenzel are gearing up for an epic contest. Alex Wenzel is attending Northwestern University this year in the engineering school, and Robert Murphy is attending Notre Dame. Both have joined their university marching bands and next year NU and Notre Dame will be playing at Wrigley field. I am rooting for NU (I’m an NU Alumni), but my dad went to Notre Dame, so it is getting personal. Enjoy photos of Alex (Wildcats) and Robert (Fighting Irish) below.

Thanks for all your help with this! Please don’t hesitate to email me for future newsblogs.