Ictus International Music Competition Announces Its First Online Trumpet Competition

Ictus International Music Competition is pleased to announce its first online trumpet competition that is open internationally to trumpeters of all ages. More than $3500 of prize money is available and all prize winners will be featured on the competition’s website, www.trumpetcompetition.com.  Applications are due by June 1st, 2018.

Described by David Bilger of the Philadelphia Orchestra as “democratizing music competitions”, Ictus International Music Competition was founded to make international competitions more accessible by having the application and selection process take place online, eliminating prohibitive travel costs. Additionally, the competition provides free educational resources to the public through the creation of interview and performance videos of its internationally-renowned panel of judges. These interviews provide insights into the judges’ careers, practical tips on how to practice, and what they listen for when adjudicating.

The 2018 trumpet competition finals jury consists of:

• David Bilger – Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra; trumpet faculty at the Curtis Institute of Music and Temple University
• Mary Elizabeth Bowden – Classical trumpeter and Gold Medal Global Music Award Winner; Resident Artist at North Carolina School of the Arts.
• Frits Damrow – Principal Trumpet of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra from 1991-2010; Professor of trumpet at University of the Arts in Zurich, Switzerland (Zürcher Hochschule der Künste); and former trumpet teacher at Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
• Brandon Ridenour – Virtuoso trumpeter and composer; winner of the 2014 Concert Artist’s Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition; and youngest member ever to join the Canadian Brass.

Founder and President Alexander Serio says, “Most people don’t realize that many international competitions are only international in the sense that they include those who can obtain visas and pay the large travel costs (and sometimes conference fees or additional concert fees) to attend. While our trumpet competition does have an entry fee, the total cost to participate may be as little as one fifth or less of the cost of traveling and attending a live round of an international – or even a national – competition.”

 Additionally, this new trumpet competition hopes to expand the standard competition repertoire. Applicants will be allowed to submit works for trumpet and electronics, solo (unaccompanied) trumpet, trumpet and percussion, trumpet and orchestra, and transcriptions for trumpet and piano in addition to the standard works for trumpet and piano. 

During its first year, Ictus International Music Competition was only open to bands/wind ensembles and orchestras and drew applicants from South Africa all the way up to Washington State. The first place winners received prize money and were featured on local TV news, newspapers, and classical music blogs. Each winner is featured along with their winning performance on ictusmusiccompetition.com. The competition will be open to bands and orchestras again in 2018.

To apply or learn more, visit www.trumpetcompetition.com or www.ictusmusiccompetition.com