The 11th International Trumpet Art Week was held in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, China. I was invited as a guest of honor to this celebration of trumpet.
The 11th China International Trumpet Art Week (Changsha), jointly organized by the World Trumpet Federation, Changsha Symphony Orchestra and Changsha Concert Hall, was held from July 16 to 20, 2023.
A number of trumpet artists active on the international stage and teaching venues have been invited to join with domestic experts to present exciting concerts and skill lessons to the event participants.
Events of the week include:
Opening Concert, Chinese and foreign experts' lesson, experts' concert, "2022 National Trumpet Repertoire Exhibition" outstanding ensembles concert, exhibition award concert and closing ceremony, national trumpet playing and teaching seminar, etc. High level trumpet performances were held during the week. The Jury Committee consisted of experts from around the world.
A number of trumpet artists active on the international stage and teaching venues have been invited to join with domestic experts to present exciting concerts and skill lessons to the event participants.
Events of the week include:
Opening Concert, Chinese and foreign experts' lesson, experts' concert, "2022 National Trumpet Repertoire Exhibition" outstanding ensembles concert, exhibition award concert and closing ceremony, national trumpet playing and teaching seminar, etc. High level trumpet performances were held during the week. The Jury Committee consisted of experts from around the world.
International Jury
Chairman of the Artistic Committee: Richard Stolzel (USA) - President of the World Trumpet Association.
Jury members: Steve Leisring professor of trumpet at the Kansas City Univ. and concertmaster of the trumpet section of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra (USA); Brandon Ridenour (USA) former member of Canadian Brass; Jorge Giraldo Conjertmeister of the trumpet group at the Elbe Theater, Hamburg, Germany; Maxim Shkulepa director of the Department of Brass Instruments at the Belarus State Academy of Music and Concertmaster of the trumpet group of the Belarus National Opera and Ballet Theater; Evgeiniy Ilnistky - Teacher at the State Academy of Arts of the Russian Far East, concertmaster of the trumpet group of the Mariinsky Theatre's Mariinsky Division.
Jury members: Steve Leisring professor of trumpet at the Kansas City Univ. and concertmaster of the trumpet section of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra (USA); Brandon Ridenour (USA) former member of Canadian Brass; Jorge Giraldo Conjertmeister of the trumpet group at the Elbe Theater, Hamburg, Germany; Maxim Shkulepa director of the Department of Brass Instruments at the Belarus State Academy of Music and Concertmaster of the trumpet group of the Belarus National Opera and Ballet Theater; Evgeiniy Ilnistky - Teacher at the State Academy of Arts of the Russian Far East, concertmaster of the trumpet group of the Mariinsky Theatre's Mariinsky Division.
Prize fund
Week included a competition for young trumpeters.
About the exhibition awards
1. Elementary School, Middle School and High School Groups
First prize: trophy and certificate
Second Prize: Certificate
Third Prize: Certificate
Outstanding Prize: Certificate of Merit
2.Social Group
First Prize: trophy, certificate, one professional grade trumpet of famous brands
Second Prize: Certificate of Merit, Prize money 3000 RMB(CNY)
Third Prize: Certificate of Merit, Prize money 2000 RMB(CNY)
Outstanding Prize: Certificate of Merit, Prize money of 1000 RMB(CNY)
3.Professional Group
First Prize: Trophy, Certificate of Merit and a musical instrument worth 70,000 RMB(CNY)
Second Prize: Certificate of Merit and a prize of 10,000 RMB(CNY)
Third Prize: Certificate of Merit, prize money of 6,000 RMB(CNY)
Outstanding Prize: Certificate of Merit and a prize of 3,000 RMB(CNY)
About the exhibition awards
1. Elementary School, Middle School and High School Groups
First prize: trophy and certificate
Second Prize: Certificate
Third Prize: Certificate
Outstanding Prize: Certificate of Merit
2.Social Group
First Prize: trophy, certificate, one professional grade trumpet of famous brands
Second Prize: Certificate of Merit, Prize money 3000 RMB(CNY)
Third Prize: Certificate of Merit, Prize money 2000 RMB(CNY)
Outstanding Prize: Certificate of Merit, Prize money of 1000 RMB(CNY)
3.Professional Group
First Prize: Trophy, Certificate of Merit and a musical instrument worth 70,000 RMB(CNY)
Second Prize: Certificate of Merit and a prize of 10,000 RMB(CNY)
Third Prize: Certificate of Merit, prize money of 6,000 RMB(CNY)
Outstanding Prize: Certificate of Merit and a prize of 3,000 RMB(CNY)
Trumpet Art Week 2023 Opening Ceremony
on Photo: Steve Leisring (USA) at the opening of the event.
At the opening of the forum there was a concert of Chinese pipe art masters. Musicians of the Changsha Symphony Orchestra and teachers of the Academy of Music together with their students performed a number of works by world composers arranged for a trumpet ensemble. The level of performance was very high and the musicians received well-deserved applause from the audience.
The opening ceremony was attended by contestants, guests of the festival, jury members and trumpet art enthusiasts.
Opening Ceremony Concert.
Video fragment
Start of the competition.
The next day was the first round of the competition within the framework of the Trumpet Art Week. I had the honor of being invited as the guest of honor of this form and personally attended the contests and master classes.
Of course, this show is Chinese by the standards of international competitions, but the jury is also international. The jury consists of honored musicians from different countries, each of whom has gained authority in the trumpet profession and is a continuer of the traditions of the schools where they studied.
The first day of the competition revealed many candidates for the second round. In the first round all participants performed two pieces each: Franz Joseph Haydn - Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat Major (1st movement); George Enescu - "Legend".
Many participants, used in Es trumpets as written by the composer Haydn, but there were also those who used in B trumpet, and even instruments with German folding valves. This shows that Chinese trumpeters and their mentors take their work very seriously and professionally.
George Enescu's famous work "Legend" is an epic written for in C trumpet and presents a special challenge for the trumpeter. In this work the trumpet player is revealed from all sides: stamina, display of all registers, psyche. This work is a complex ballet of three acts. I can say that in the infusion of the performance one's whole life is carried through. It is not without reason that this wonderful piece is mandatory at many trumpet competitions I have seen.
Of course, most of the participants had problems with breathing, instability in sound production, fear of the upper register and, as a consequence, an unprepared springboard for the flight to the top and safe return from space. But in general, the performance level of the contestants was more than remarkable.
Of course, this show is Chinese by the standards of international competitions, but the jury is also international. The jury consists of honored musicians from different countries, each of whom has gained authority in the trumpet profession and is a continuer of the traditions of the schools where they studied.
The first day of the competition revealed many candidates for the second round. In the first round all participants performed two pieces each: Franz Joseph Haydn - Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat Major (1st movement); George Enescu - "Legend".
Many participants, used in Es trumpets as written by the composer Haydn, but there were also those who used in B trumpet, and even instruments with German folding valves. This shows that Chinese trumpeters and their mentors take their work very seriously and professionally.
George Enescu's famous work "Legend" is an epic written for in C trumpet and presents a special challenge for the trumpeter. In this work the trumpet player is revealed from all sides: stamina, display of all registers, psyche. This work is a complex ballet of three acts. I can say that in the infusion of the performance one's whole life is carried through. It is not without reason that this wonderful piece is mandatory at many trumpet competitions I have seen.
Of course, most of the participants had problems with breathing, instability in sound production, fear of the upper register and, as a consequence, an unprepared springboard for the flight to the top and safe return from space. But in general, the performance level of the contestants was more than remarkable.
on Photo: Terry Heimat and Steve Leisring after master-class.
Trumpet performing arts master classes
The 11th International Trumpet Art Week in Changsha attracts the attention of many professionals and brass fans. The relaxed atmosphere and professionally organized communication space make this festival truly first-class.
Photo: Guests of honor, businessman Tse Chi Hung, Professor Terry Heimat Together with a member of the international jury Maxim Spalera
Photo: Guests of honor, businessman Tse Chi Hung, Professor Terry Heimat Together with a member of the international jury Maxim Spalera
Master classes by members of the jury took place throughout the week. On July 18, the Changsha Concert Hall hosted a master class by Maxim Shkulepa, a professor from Belarus. About two hundred spectators were present in the hall. Maxim gave demonstration lessons with two students and spoke about the culture of sound and technique using the examples of the Aratyunyan Trumpet Concerto and the Gumel Trumpet Concerto.
After the master class, the audience did not let the master go for a long time: they took pictures and autographs from the wonderful professional from Belarus.
After the master class, the audience did not let the master go for a long time: they took pictures and autographs from the wonderful professional from Belarus.
Master classes by members of the jury took place throughout the week. On July 18, the Changsha Concert Hall hosted a master class by Maxim Shkulepa, a professor from Belarus. About two hundred spectators were present in the hall. Maxim gave demonstration lessons with two students and spoke about the culture of sound and technique using the examples of the Aratyunyan Trumpet Concerto and the Gumel Trumpet Concerto.
After the master class, the audience did not let the master go for a long time: they took pictures and autographs from the wonderful professional from Belarus.
After the master class, the audience did not let the master go for a long time: they took pictures and autographs from the wonderful professional from Belarus.
Second round
The program of the second round included the obligatory performance of the following works:
Franz Joseph Haydn - Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat Major (2st movement);
Giuseppe Tartini - Piccolo trumpet concerto in 3 movements.
Franz Joseph Haydn - Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat Major (2st movement);
Giuseppe Tartini - Piccolo trumpet concerto in 3 movements.
Third round
The program of the third second round included the obligatory performance of the following works:
Franz Joseph Haydn - Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat Major (3st movement);
Vladimir Peskin - Concert Allegro
All data on laureates and winners can be viewed on the official website of the festival organizers.
Franz Joseph Haydn - Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in E-flat Major (3st movement);
Vladimir Peskin - Concert Allegro
All data on laureates and winners can be viewed on the official website of the festival organizers.
The event is certainly worthy of numerous mentions, as it is an unprecedented musical event in the trumpet world. Congratulations to all participants, organizers, jury members and festival guests for such a wonderful event as the 11th Changsha International Trumpet Art Week!
