October 2006 Winner: Lauren Bird

The October 2006 Young Artist Award is Lauren Bird, a graduate of Lincoln Southwest High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her trumpet teachers have included Amy Gammel (2001 - 2003) and Darryl White (2003 - 2005). She currently studies with Gary Mortenson at Kansas State University. Her high school band and orchestra directors were Lori Falcone and Stacy Marshall, respectively.

Lauren's high school career was busy and eventful. At Lincoln Southwest she performed with the marching band for four years, highlighted by the group's trip to London to perform in the New Year's Parade in 2006. She was 1st chair in the Symphony Band, lead in the Varsity Jazz Band, and principal trumpet in the Orchestra. As a member of Lincoln Southwest's Pit Orchestra, she performed 1st trumpet on Wizard of Oz, My Fair Lady, and West Side Story.

Lauren's activities extended into the community as well. She performed with the Lincoln Youth Symphony, traveling to Austria for the American Music Celebration performance tour in March of 2005. Lauren was also a regular member of the Nebraska Trumpet Ensemble (four years) and attended honor bands at Wesleyan University, the

University of Nebraska, and Kansas State University. In 2006, she was a member of the Nebraska All-State Orchestra. In 2005 she started teaching trumpet to area grade school students.

Active in many organizations that extend beyond music, Lauren lettered in student council and academics in addition to music. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Youth Leadership Lincoln, and has received the Character Achievement Award twice. In her spare time Lauren helps out as a babysitter, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, and has even worked on farms detasseling corn during the summer months!

In recognition of her outstanding talent, ITG will provide Lauren Bird with a complimentary one-year membership.

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