Group of Trumpet Students Advance to National Trumpet Competition

JONESBORO – Thanks to a high-quality submission, a group of trumpet students from Arkansas State University has advanced to the National Trumpet Competition for the third consecutive year.

Dr. Nairam Simoes, assistant professor of trumpet at A-State and advisor to the students, said: "The National Trumpet Competition is the most important and highly regarded of all competitions". "Notably, this competition is peer-reviewed and highly esteemed, making it the largest competition in the world."

Each year, more than 3,000 students from over 40 states and six other countries take part in this highly regarded event.

Featured students include Grayden Fields, a second-year master's student from Batesville; Carlos Mejia, a first-year master's student from Springdale; Cody Daughertee, a senior from Poplar Bluff, Mo.; Jeremiah Hendrix, a junior from Bald Knob; and Zane Kenzik, a sophomore from Mason, Ohio.

In December 2023, the students submitted a video recording for review. Simoes explained that after being evaluated by a national panel of judges made up of trumpet artists and educators, the students earned a spot in the competition's quarterfinal round.

The live rounds are scheduled to take place from March 8 to March 11 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

This year, approximately 200 ensembles from across the country submitted videos, with only 40 ensembles selected to compete in the small ensemble category.

Simoes also serves as a judge for the national competition, in the student solo category. He is also the orchestral spotlight column editor for the International Trumpet Guild Journal and a board member of the Brazilian Trumpet Guild.