Thursday, June 1, 2023, 5:00 pm (Central): "Trumpet Signatures: The The Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble"
International Conference of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG).
Ballroom B, Hyatt Hotel Downtown, Minneapolis, MN. Ticketed event. Free and open to conference participants.
International Conference of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG).
Ballroom B, Hyatt Hotel Downtown, Minneapolis, MN. Ticketed event. Free and open to conference participants.
TCTE Music Director James Olcott will conduct the finale of the traditional Festival of Trumpets at the ITG conference. He will conduct the combined forces of all participants in the 75-minute concert in the performance of Mussorgsky's Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition, arranged for trumpet ensemble and percussion by Bradley Ulrich.
TCTE Concert in Anoka, MN
TCTE played on May 7, in the physically and acoustically beautiful sanctuary of the Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka. The 90+ members of the audience were, according to conductor James Olcott, treated to a concert that displayed an energy and focus that rose the general musical sense of the ensemble to an exceptional level.
(Photo thanks to Carol Jensen) |
TCTE Jazz Blows 'Em Away
TCTE Jazz played Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, Minnesota on April 26. It was the featured musical entertainment for a lunch meeting. The group did a great job and the audience loved it. Excellent music and inspired solo's were abundant.
Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble Live Performance Videos
Video/audio recordings from the TCTE November 13 concert at the Masonic Heritage Center, Ives Auditorium have been mastered and are available for your enjoyment.
Paul Murtha's "Signature Fanfare" commissioned for TCTE: Signature
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov "Procession of the Nobles" adapted for TCTE by Edward Hoffman: Procession
The premiere performance of Eric Ewazen's "Clarion Calls for 2 Trumpets" commissioned for TCTE, soloists Ronald Romm and Charles Lazarus: Clarion
"Guadalcanal March" by Richard Rodgers and Robert Russell Bennett. Adapted for TCTE by Michael Serber: Guadalcanal
A Leroy Anderson favorite, Buglers Holiday, conducted by Christopher Tank, adapted by James Olcott with Soloists; Charles Lazarus, Ronald Romm, James Olcott.: Buglers
Paul Murtha's "Signature Fanfare" commissioned for TCTE: Signature
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov "Procession of the Nobles" adapted for TCTE by Edward Hoffman: Procession
The premiere performance of Eric Ewazen's "Clarion Calls for 2 Trumpets" commissioned for TCTE, soloists Ronald Romm and Charles Lazarus: Clarion
"Guadalcanal March" by Richard Rodgers and Robert Russell Bennett. Adapted for TCTE by Michael Serber: Guadalcanal
A Leroy Anderson favorite, Buglers Holiday, conducted by Christopher Tank, adapted by James Olcott with Soloists; Charles Lazarus, Ronald Romm, James Olcott.: Buglers
"A Procession of Trumpets"
November 13, 2022 concert a brilliant success.
The Procession of Trumpets concert at the Ives Auditorium, Masonic Heritage Center, with Master of Ceremonies Tim Blotz, was a high success. An audience of over 250 seemed mesmerized with every tune that the ensemble played. From the opening fanfare to the premier of Eric Ewazen's Clarion Calls performed by guest soloists Ronald Romm and Charles Lazarus to the final piece, The Stars and Stripes Forever.
Congratulatory notes included "clean", "terrifically exciting", "stylistically nails-on", and 'fantastic variety"; "The group understood the music and played with phrase, dynamics, and style." Perhaps the most meaningful compliment came from composer Eric Ewazen: "My heartiest congratulations and thanks to each and every one of you for your truly exciting and brilliant concert this past Sunday, and your beautiful and riveting premiere performance of Clarion Calls. Each piece was so distinctive and so beautifully performed, highlighting the individual styles of the music so perfectly! (Plus it was so entertaining!!!)."
Congratulatory notes included "clean", "terrifically exciting", "stylistically nails-on", and 'fantastic variety"; "The group understood the music and played with phrase, dynamics, and style." Perhaps the most meaningful compliment came from composer Eric Ewazen: "My heartiest congratulations and thanks to each and every one of you for your truly exciting and brilliant concert this past Sunday, and your beautiful and riveting premiere performance of Clarion Calls. Each piece was so distinctive and so beautifully performed, highlighting the individual styles of the music so perfectly! (Plus it was so entertaining!!!)."
Images by Cavitt Productions, Kathy Burnham, Photographer
TCTE's Ukraine National Anthem Goes Global

The Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble's (TCTE) version of the National Anthem of Ukraine (by Mykhailo Mykhailovych Verbytsky, arranged by James Olcott) is being offered on the internet as a free download by Triplo Press. To date the video has been viewed over 10,500 times and downloaded over 350 times worldwide. Triplo Press (James Olcott, proprietor) is one of TCTE’s corporate sponsors.
Olcott writes, "Play it on any occasion where you wish to show compassion, support, and solidarity for the country of Ukraine." The instrumentation includes eight trumpets in B-flat with four flugelhorns and percussion (snare drum, cymbals and bass drum).
Permission is granted to download the recording from the Triplo site for use on social media with appropriate credit given to Triplo Press and James Olcott. Permission is given to copy and distribute the printed music of this arrangement worldwide, again with acknowledged credit. Recording or distribution of this arrangement by any means for profit is strictly prohibited."
This version of the National Anthem of Ukraine was selected to open the 2022 international conference of the International Trumpet Guild in San Antonio, Texas. It was performed in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk by "the world's largest trumpet ensemble" (usually 150-200 players) and conducted by Marie Speziale. The anthem preceded the traditional opening trumpet ensemble fanfare signaling the start of the conference.
Olcott writes, "Play it on any occasion where you wish to show compassion, support, and solidarity for the country of Ukraine." The instrumentation includes eight trumpets in B-flat with four flugelhorns and percussion (snare drum, cymbals and bass drum).
Permission is granted to download the recording from the Triplo site for use on social media with appropriate credit given to Triplo Press and James Olcott. Permission is given to copy and distribute the printed music of this arrangement worldwide, again with acknowledged credit. Recording or distribution of this arrangement by any means for profit is strictly prohibited."
This version of the National Anthem of Ukraine was selected to open the 2022 international conference of the International Trumpet Guild in San Antonio, Texas. It was performed in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Riverwalk by "the world's largest trumpet ensemble" (usually 150-200 players) and conducted by Marie Speziale. The anthem preceded the traditional opening trumpet ensemble fanfare signaling the start of the conference.
TCTE Store Open For Business!
Now you no longer need to wait until a TCTE concert to load up on merchandise! Visit our Store, right here on our website, to purchase CDs, t-shirts, and window clings.
Our CD is produced and available, but costs continue to maintain our new store, our website, and to continue our educational outreach programs. Please consider a generous donation – made easily online - to keep things moving. Simply click the button above, or go to the TCTE Donations page to give a gift in any amount using your credit card. You will also find information there about how to donate by check, if you prefer. (And don't forget to ask your employer about matching your donation.) Thank you!
Have You Tried One of Our
Trumpet Quizzes Yet?
Looking for something fun to do during the holiday break? Over 400 people have taken our three quizzes since 2018, and the entries keep rolling in. Try your hand at all three, and stop by our Facebook page to share your score and your comments. These are challenging quizzes, and there have been only 5 perfect scores so far. But remember, these are not just for trumpet players! Have fun!
Want More TCTE Music Videos?
Visit the TCTE YouTube Channel!
The Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble library of video performances now has more than 20 videos! Comments like "So AWESOME!" "Well done!!!" and "Wonderful arrangement, great editing, and beautiful playing!" indicate we're doing something right! Thank you!
The YouTube collection also includes our television appearances and playing the Canadian national anthem at a Twins game! More are being added from the archives and as new videos are created. Please visit the TCTE Channel and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out.
The YouTube collection also includes our television appearances and playing the Canadian national anthem at a Twins game! More are being added from the archives and as new videos are created. Please visit the TCTE Channel and SUBSCRIBE so you don't miss out.
Enjoy this recording of the TCTE's "trademark" fanfare
"Soundings" by Brian Balmages.
Recorded at Ives Auditorium on August 19, 2017.
"Soundings" by Brian Balmages.
Recorded at Ives Auditorium on August 19, 2017.
The Twin Cities Trumpet Ensemble thanks the following for their support:
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