Third Annual Lone Star Trumpet Day Hosted at Lone Star College-Montgomery
On March 7, 2026, Lone Star College-Montgomery hosted its Third Annual Lone Star Trumpet Day under the direction of Dr. Will Koehler, Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Lone Star College-Montgomery.
The event featured faculty including Wiff Rudd, Professor of Trumpet at Baylor University; Dr. Mike Sailors, Professor of Practice in Jazz Studies and Jazz Ensemble Director at the University of Texas at Austin; Jody Ilgenfritz, freelance trumpet player in Houston; Vernon Richter, freelance trumpet player in the Dallas-Fort Worth area; and Dr. Ryan McArthur, Adjunct Professor of Trumpet and Jazz Ensemble Director at Lone Star College-CyFair and University Park. These clinicians provided trumpet students in the greater Houston area with masterclasses featuring a wide variety of pedagogical expertise, as well as a series of performances.
The day began with a performance by the University of Houston Small Trumpet Ensemble of Ned Battista's "Paraphrases." This ensemble later earned First Place at the National Trumpet Competition in the Small Ensemble division. Following this performance, Koehler welcomed attendees before introducing Rudd, who conducted a group warm-up session. His approach focused on the importance of relaxation, ease of tone production, and group improvisation. After the morning warm-up, Rudd conducted his first masterclass of the day, building on the concepts introduced in the group session. Later in the day, he conducted a masterclass in which various students performed works by Oskar Böhme, Vladimir Peskin, and Kent Kennan.
In Richter's morning clinic, he shared his own fundamental approach to trumpet playing with a focus on easy airflow and lip slurs. His clinic incorporated concepts that helped students simplify tone production and create a smooth connection between partials on the trumpet.
Ilgenfritz's first clinic of the day focused on building a healthy practice routine. A central theme was promoting creativity within the students' routines to foster engagement and avoid mindless practice.
The afternoon included exploration of the exhibition hall, where Fleming Music showcased instrument repair services and Steve Bell displayed his custom-designed trumpets. Shortly after, the University of Houston Large Trumpet Ensemble performed an arrangement of Franz von Suppé's Poet and Peasant Overture, which they later performed at the National Trumpet Competition.
McArthur's clinic addressed issues surrounding trumpet playing with braces and Invisalign. McArthur discussed his own struggles with trumpet playing while undergoing Invisalign treatment and what he has done to overcome these challenges. Additionally, McArthur discussed the fundamentals he focuses on in his daily routine to promote a healthy approach to trumpet playing.
The day concluded with final masterclasses and outstanding recitals from Rudd (featuring Koehler) and Sailors. Both masterclasses were geared toward middle school students and focused on concepts similar to those introduced earlier in the day, including ease of tone production, effortless playing, and group improvisation. Rudd's recital featured works by Joseph Turrin, George Gershwin, and Kevin McKee, while Koehler performed Bernard Fitzgerald's "Ballad." Rudd's recital also featured a world premiere in which a group of students improvised a piece together. Closing out the day, Sailors offered a compelling jazz performance for solo trumpet and guitar. (Source: Ryan McArthur)
