October 2022 Winner: Claire Yungbluth
This issue’s featured young artist award winner is Claire Yungbluth, an eighteen-year-old trumpet player who has recently graduated from Campbell County High School in the greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky area. In addition to performing in her high school’s wind ensemble, Claire performed in the Cincinnati Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) for three years. As a sophomore she performed in the Concert Orchestra and during her junior and senior years she played principal trumpet in the top Philharmonic orchestra. Her interests in orchestral trumpet began in her freshman year of high school when she performed in the Northern Kentucky University’s Youth Symphony Orchestra.
In 2021, Claire was selected for both the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts and the Governor’s Scholar Program (GSP). She decided to attend GSP at the Morehead campus and was a member of the music cohort. During her senior year of high school, Claire also made the Kentucky All State Concert Band.
While Claire started on trumpet in the 6th grade, her musical studies began at age three when she attended Northern Kentucky University’s Xylo-Zoo and followed with piano lessons for most of elementary school. Her trumpet instructors included Chris Kiradjieff of the Cincinnati Symphony and Jenna Veverka. Speaking of Claire, Ms. Veverka says, “Claire is passionate about music, progressing, and reaching her fullest potential. Her consistent progress is evidence of her extremely strong work ethic and determination. She is responsible, bright, reliable, and an individual of upstanding character and integrity.” Claire cites her studies with Ms. Veverka as incredibly inspiring due to her strength as a trumpet player and a positive female role model. Her parents and brother have also been important sources of encouragement and support for her as well.
In addition to taking trumpet seriously, Claire is a dedicated student who is pursuing a degree in Psychology at Centre College and is performing in the orchestra on a music scholarship. As a “straight A” 4.0 GPA student, Claire took nine AP classes in high school and also greatly enjoyed competing on her high school’s Academic Team all four years of high school. She specialized in Arts & Humanities which helped her deepen her knowledge and understanding of classical composers. She also thoroughly enjoyed working as an after-school tutor at her local elementary school. Her favorite trumpet players to listen to are Alison Balsom, Tine Thing Helseth and Wynton Marsalis. As the October 2022 ITG Young Artist Award winner, she will receive a one-year complimentary membership to ITG. Congratulations Claire!