The National Trumpet Competition is an annual music competition for students in the US that usually takes place in mid-March. It includes classical and jazz divisions at school through college levels for soloists and ensembles. The competition was formerly held at George Mason University until 2013; then moved to Messiah College in 2014 and 2015, Columbus State University in 2016, Metropolitan State University in 2017, and University of North Texas in 2018. The 2019 competition was held at the University of Kentucky. The next event will be in March 2024 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Students can register by completing an online form at the competition website, as well as attaching a link to a YouTube or Vimeo video of them performing only a published (including a self-published) composition from the trumpet repertoire, with piano accompaniment. They must also send in an application fee, and an NTC pianist fee (optional). Entrants are selected based on their videos, and are notified of results in mid-January.[1] [2]
The competition was founded in 1991 by Dr. Dennis Edelbrock, who teaches trumpet at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia,[3] and finals were held there through 2013.[4] [5] [6]
Semi-finals and finals in each division are now held at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University.[7] They are judged by professional trumpeters from around the area including Steven Hendrickson of the National Symphony Orchestra,[8] Dr. Edelbrock, and members from Washington D.C.'s military bands. Depending on the division, there are about 25-50 competitors (except the junior division, which is usually smaller). After the first day, about five soloists and ensembles (although often ranging from 3 to 6) from each division move on to the finals, which usually take place a day or two later and at which one winner is chosen.[9] Second and third place finalists usually also receive an award. The finalists have their finals audition posted on YouTube.
| 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | 4th Place | Finalists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Large Ensemble | University of North Texas | San Francisco Conservatory | University of Colorado Boulder | ||
| 2023 Small Ensemble | University of Southern California | University of Colorado Boulder | Baylor University | ||
| 2022 Large Ensemble | University of Colorado Boulder | Brigham Young University | Baylor University | ||
| 2022 Small Ensemble | University of Colorado Boulder | San Francisco Conservatory | Indiana University | ||
| 2019Large Ensemble | University of Oklahoma | Oklahoma State University | Baylor University - Green | ||
| 2019 Small Ensemble | Baylor University - Gold | Florida State University | San Francisco Conservatory | ||
| 2018 Large Ensemble | Oklahoma State University | Baylor University (Green) | University of North Texas | ||
| 2018 Small Ensemble | Baylor University (Gold) | University of Texas at Austin | Florida State University (Renegade) | ||
| 2017 Large Ensemble | Baylor University - Green | Florida State University | Southern Methodist University | ||
| 2017 Small Ensemble | University of Michigan | Cal State Long Beach | Cincinnati Conservatory of Music | ||
| 2016 Large Ensemble | Oklahoma State University - Black | University of Texas at Austin | Central Michigan University | ||
| 2016 Small Ensemble | Curtis Institute of Music | University of Kentucky | Eastman School of Music - 2 | ||
| 2015 Large Ensemble | Baylor University - Green | University of Miami | Oklahoma State University - Black | ||
| 2015 Small Ensemble | Oklahoma State University - Orange | Southern Methodist University | Curtis Institute of Music | ||
| 2014 | Oklahoma State University - Orange | Baylor University - Gold | University of Georgia Eastman School of Music | ||
| 2013 | Baylor University - Gold | Baylor University - Green Oklahoma State University - Orange | |||
| 2012 | Northwestern University | Baylor University - Gold | Florida State University UCLA | ||
| 2011 | Baylor University - A | Florida State University | Indiana University | University of Kentucky - Blue | Baylor University - B University of Oklahoma University of Southern Mississippi |
| 2010 | The Juilliard School | Indiana University - B | Grand Valley State University - A | University of Kentucky | Indiana University - A Peabody Institute Sam Houston State University University of Texas Virginia Tech |
| 2009 | The Juilliard School | Northwestern University | Grand Valley State University | Baylor University | Boston University - A Boston University - B |