Baylor Trumpet Players Place Third in National Competition

April 3, 2014

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Media contact: Terry Goodrich, (254) 710-3321
WACO, Texas (April 3, 2014) – Students from the Baylor trumpet studio represented the Bears with great success on March 23 as they earned third place in the trumpet ensemble division at the 2014 National Trumpet Competition.
The ensemble, Baylor Gold, was composed of six students: graduate student Erika Izaguirre, seniors Tyler Brinkman and Ben Hauser, and juniors Kelsie Dunham, Daniel Gerona and David Sayers. Along with another trumpet ensemble from the studio, seven-member Baylor Green, the groups were selected to advance to semifinals from a pool of 60 entries in December.
During the recent competition at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa., both groups performed in semifinals and Baylor Gold advanced to the finals. The group earned third place behind trumpet ensembles from Oklahoma State and the University of Kentucky, marking the fifth year in a row that Baylor has placed in finals.
Wiff Rudd, professor of trumpet in Baylor's School of Music, could not be more proud of his students.
"Words cannot express how happy I am that that our trumpet students have embraced the idea of preparing well and letting the results take care of themselves," he said. "When our ensembles played at the competition this year, they did not look like they were competing. They looked like they were performing a concert and having fun doing it."
Senior Baylor Gold member Ben Hauser said the group was pleased with the way they played.
"We were all very satisfied with our performance and that was always our goal," he said. "If the audience liked it, then third place and some prize money was just an added bonus. It's a rewarding feeling to be competitive with some of the best trumpet studios in the country."
Aside from the ensemble success, studio members Ben Hauser, Kelsie Dunham, Regan O'Connor and John Burton made up 10 percent of the semifinalists in the undergraduate solo division.
While Rudd is proud of their musical accomplishments, he is also happy to teach his students skills that will be useful to them for the rest of their lives.
"Above all, I love the fact that in the countless hours of preparation, these students develop an artistic aesthetic and priceless skills related to team work, leadership, conflict resolution and personal confidence that will serve them well forever."
by Kristen Bennett, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805.

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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 15,000 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 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC

The Baylor University School of Music provides transformational experiences that prepare students for careers in music. Our students thrive in a Christian environment characterized by a nurturing resident faculty, an unwavering pursuit of musical excellence, a global perspective, dedication to service, and devotion to faith. They investigate the rich musical and cultural heritage of the past, develop superior musical skills and knowledge in the present, and explore and create new modes of musical expression for the future. While preparing for future leadership roles, the students join with School of Music faculty in enhancing the quality of community life, enriching the larger culture, and making Baylor a place in which heart, mind and soul coalesce. The School of Music of Baylor University is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music and the Texas Association of Music Schools. Degree programs leading to the bachelor of music education degree conform to certification requirements of the Texas Education Agency.