Congratulations to our June 2011 Young Artist award recipient, Ryan Gilbert from Owosso, Michigan. Ryan graduates this month from Corunna High School where he performed as principal trumpeter in the marching band, symphony, and jazz bands under the direction of Mark Sopjes.
Ryan began studying the trumpet at age eleven with the guidance of Corunna Middle School music teacher David Lea. During the summers of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades he attended Michigan’s Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp performing in the concert and symphonic bands. As his interest in music making grew, Ryan began his private studies with Richard Illman, professor of trumpet at Michigan State University, and during his early high school career became a founding member of the Spartan Youth Wind Symphony as well as a participant in the Michigan All-State Band and Orchestra.
During the summers of 2008 through 2010 Ryan participated in the Grand Valley State University International Trumpet Seminar performing in masterclasses with internationally-re nowned artists including Mat thias Kamps, Zhonghui Dai, Erd en Bilgen, Vince DiMartino, and Rex Richardson.
Ryan has been a member of the trumpet section of the Flint Youth Symphony throughout high school and was a semi-finalist in the high school solo division of the National Trumpet Competition.
Outside of his numerous music commitments Ryan was a member of the Corunna High varsity tennis and bowling teams while maintaining a rigorous load of advanced academic courses.
Ryan was nominated for the YAA by his current teacher and mentor Richard Stoelzel. Professor Stoelzel praises him for his professionalism, dedication to his music making, and outstanding character. Ryan will attend Grand Valley State University in the fall of 2011 majoring in music performance. Ryan thanks his mom and dad, Tim and Sue Gilbert, for their support, guidance, and great personal influence. As our June 2011 Young Artist Award winner, Ryan will receive a one-year complimentary membership in ITG.
About the Editor: Jean Moorehead Libs received her B.M.E and M.M. in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from the University of Michigan School of Music while studying with Prof. Emeritus Clifford P. Lillya; she continued at Michigan doing Post Graduate and Doctoral studies with Armando Ghitalla, Prof. Emeritus and former Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.