October 2023 Winner: Christopher Petrella
This issue’s featured young artist award winner is Christopher Petrella, an 18-year-old trumpet player who graduated from Hudson High School in Hudson, Ohio last spring. Chris is currently a freshman trumpet performance major at the Curtis Institute of Music where he is studying with David Bilger.
Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Chris’s musical journey was greatly influenced by his participation in the Fountain City Youth Brass Academy Honor band for three years and his studying with Professor Keith Benjamin whom he studied with for five years. While living in Missouri, Chris earned a seat in the KMEA All-State Band his freshman year and was the first chair in the KMEA All-State Orchestra his sophomore year. He has also performed as a member of the Youth Symphony of Kansas City during sixth grade. Once he moved to Ohio, Chris began studying with Michael Sachs and Michael Miller of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and became principal trumpet in the Kent State Youth Winds Ensemble in addition to playing in his high school’s marching band and wind ensemble.
In 2020, he was a finalist in the Ictus International Trumpet Competition and was a semifinalist in the National Trumpet Competition, which was canceled due to covid. Additionally, in 2020, Chris was selected to perform in the NAfME All-National Honor Band on the first trumpet part. In 2021, Chris was selected to perform in the NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra on the first trumpet and was awarded first prize in the High School Solo Division at the National Trumpet Competition in Greensboro, North Carolina. This past year, Chris was a finalist in the Presidents Own Marine Band Concerto Competition.
Chris credits his parents with a lot of his success because they have been incredibly supportive of him and because he began his musical journey taking piano lessons with his mom. He is also very grateful for the wonderful music teachers and trumpet teachers he has had in his life. In addition to performing trumpet, Chris values staying physically active. He was a member of a swim team for eight years, swimming competitively all through high school. Chris hopes to make a living as a professional trumpet player and would love to do so as a trumpet soloist both through giving solo recitals and soloing with orchestras like some of his trumpet idols such as Maurice André and Håkan Hardenberger. As the October 2023 ITG Young Artist Award winner, he will receive a one-year complimentary membership to ITG. Congratulations Christopher!