ITG Recognizes 2020 Orchestral Excerpts Competition Finalists
The cancellation of the 2020 International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conference in Columbus, Ohio also meant the cancellation of the many competitions that take place at the annual conference. ITG recognizes the hard work and dedication of these wonderful young women and men. In an effort to honor our talented young artists, ITG will be featuring each of the finalists on the ITG Website and in the October 2020 ITG Journal.
Finalists in the four major divisions (Solo, Jazz, Wind Band, Orchestral) will each be named Co-Finalists, receive a $500 cash prize, receive free admission (registration fee waived) to the 2021 competition, and be recognized in a special way by ITG in its publications.
Today's featured division is the Orchestral Excerpts Division. The Orchestral Excerpts Division is chaired by Peyden Shelton, assistant professor of trumpet at the University of Utah.
Students from around the world submitted a recording of preliminary round excerpts, from which three finalists were selected.
Adjudicators for the preliminary round were:
Sarah Viens
Principal Trumpet of Pacific Northwest Ballet, Orchestra Next, and Eugene Symphony
Leslie Scarpino
Principal Trumpet of Central City Opera, Opera Colorado, and The Boulder Philharmonic
Jennifer Marotta
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the University of Southern California
The three finalists were:
David Nakazona ,Roosevelt University
Teacher: Mark Ridenour
Bronson Pascual, University of Utah
Teacher: Peyden Shelton
Joseph Tkach, Baylor University
Teacher: Wiff Rudd
David Nakazono
Growing up as an Army Brat, David Nakazono pulls from his international experiences to bring a unique voice and perspective to his music. Currently, David is a regular member in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, 2nd Trumpet with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra , and Section Trumpet with the Wisconsin Philharmonic. Concurrently, he is also pursuing a Performance Diploma in Orchestral Studies at the Chicago College of Performing Arts (Roosevelt) under Mark Ridenour (CSO) and Esteban Battalán (CSO), where he also received his Masters of Music in Orchestral Studies. Additionally, David holds a B.M. in Trumpet Performance and a B.A. in Physics from the University of California- Santa Barbara (UCSB). At UCSB, David founded the Pops Orchestra at UCSB, exploring and developing his talents beyond performance.
David Nakazono has varied performance experience with various ensemble including the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, National Repertory Orchestra, Peoria Symphony, Fort Wayne Philhar monic, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Wisconsin Philharmonic, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, Young Musician’s Foundation Debut Chamber Orchestra, the Santa Monica Symphony, the Lakeview Orchestra, the Now Hear Ensemble, Connexion Band, Classical Revolution, the Chicago Brass Band, and as a founding member of Division Brass.
David attributes his success and growth as a musician to his trumpet teachers, which include: Mark Ridenour, Esteban Battalán, Neal Berntsen, Grant Hungerford, Jon Lewis, Malcolm McNab, Kenneth Capshaw, Friedhelm Biessecker, Jason Ortiz, and supporting parents who kickstarted his musical education.
Joey Tkach
Joey Tkach is a senior music performance major at Baylor University studying classical trumpet as well as jazz and composition. Prior to Baylor, Joey attended the Interlochen Arts Camp as an Emerson and Orchestral Scholar, where he served as principal trumpet in the World Youth Symphony Orchestra and was a recipient of the prestigious Maddy Summer Artist Award.
While at Baylor, he has collaboratively won 1st prize in the large ensemble division of the National Trumpet Competition and twice in the small division, as well as 2nd prize in the undergraduate solo division. In addition, Joey made his Carnegie Hall debut as a winner of both the solo and chamber divisions of the Semper Pro Musica Competition in 2018. Joey is a two-time semi-finalist in the International Ima Hogg Concerto Competition and was named a finalist in the International Trumpet Guild’s Orchestral Excerpts Competition in 2018. Additionally, he has been named a winner of the Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition and the 1st prize winner of the Ictus International Trumpet Competition. Joey is also an avid composer and has had his music performed across the country.
Apart from music, Joey has a passion for learning new recipes and being outdoors. He also enjoys destroying his friends at Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, although he admittedly gets destroyed himself on occasion in this process.
Bronson Pascual
Bronson was born and raised in beautiful Honolulu, HI. He received his bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Bronson is currently working on his Masters in Trumpet Performance at the University of Utah. He was the principal trumpet of the Desert Winds a Contemporary Wind Ensemble in Las Vegas, NV. Bronson has performed in Carnegie Hall, La Croix Valmer, France and on National Television with Lady Antebellum. Bronson was a semi-finalist for the 2020 Roger Voisin Memorial Trumpet Competition in Boca Raton, FL. He has participated in the GVSU Trumpet Seminar, ITG 2016 – 2018 and The Chosen Vale International Trumpet Seminar. Bronson has recently been accepted to the Suwannee Music Festival 2020. Bronson’s primary teachers are Dr. Peyden Shelton, Travis Peterson and Dr. Barbara Hull.