Baylor Trumpets Flung Their Green Afar, Took Home the Gold

Follow us on Twitter: @BaylorUMedia
Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (March 31, 2015) – Baylor Trumpets Green ensemble returned victorious from this year’s National Trumpet Competition (NTC) at Messiah College in Pennsylvania.
"I'm very proud of the tradition of artistry our ensembles and soloists have established at NTC and the demeanor they bring to the event,” said Wiff Rudd, professor of trumpet in Baylor’s School of Music.
Both Baylor’s Green and Gold ensembles competed in the Large Ensemble Division and Small Ensemble Division, respectively, performing in the semifinals against 16 ensemble groups including the Cincinnati Conservatory, Eastman School of Music, Boston University, University of Colorado, San Francisco Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music and the University of Kentucky.
Baylor Trumpets Green group advanced as one of three teams that competed in the Large Ensemble Division finals, winning first place. Second place went to a group from University of Miami and third to Oklahoma State University.
Baylor Trumpets are the first group to have taken first three times in the history of the competition.
“These results are unprecedented,” Rudd said. “I’m particularly proud of this group of students as they were probably the youngest ensemble in final round.”
The following students comprised the winning ensemble:
• Tammy Vaughn, graduate student
• Cameron Abtahi, sophomore
• Chris Boulais, sophomore
• John Burton, sophomore
• Brian Mendez, freshman
• TJ Saenz, freshman
• Sally Tepper, freshman

Baylor Trumpets also had 10 semifinalists advance in the solo division this year, more in one year than any school in the 24-year history of the event. Eleven Baylor Trumpet ensembles have performed at NTC since 2009, eight of which advanced to the finals and six that won prizes.
For more information, contact Wiff_Rudd@baylor.edu

by Sarah Czerwinski, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.