When the seven members of the UCLA Trumpet Ensemble took their
place on stage during the National Trumpet Competition, there
wasn’t a music stand or piece of sheet music in sight. By
deciding to memorize their music, the trumpeters knew that there
was more to their performance than making competition history
““ they were gaining national recognition for UCLA’s
department of music.
The Trumpet Ensemble put its department under the national
spotlight in March when it took home the top cash prize and beat
top music schools in the country like the Julliard School and the
University of Michigan in the three-day-long competition held in
Farifax, Va.
Third-year trumpet performance student Adam Bhatia also entered
the competition as a soloist and won the college division, while
first-year trumpet performance student Max Hembd walked away with
the Accompanists’ Choice Award for his solo performance.
“It put UCLA on the map ““ before people knew about
the school, but the music program was virtually unknown,”
Hembd said.
The trumpeters had each done their share of participation in
local competitions, but they had yet to travel across the country
and see how they stacked up against other schools’ music
programs throughout the nation.
“Going to these (competitions) is how we build up a
reputation,” Bhatia said, “We went (to the competition)
to make noise that there are other schools besides the standard
conservatories competing at a higher level.”
UCLA trumpet Professor Jens Lindemann said that he encouraged
his students to participate in the competition because he was
convinced that their playing ability was of a national caliber.
Being the first group in competition history to memorize their
pieces was a feat that demanded a rigorous practice schedule; the
musicians met every weekday and some weekends anywhere from a half
hour to three hours per session.
Bhatia and Hembd, who also had solo pieces to memorize, clocked
in as many as nine hours of practice time in a day.
“They went the extra mile to show the judges they not only
knew the piece, but could play it by memory. It was a testament to
their commitment to make this thing work ““ memorizing stands
out,” Lindemann said.
The students knew as soon as they started playing from memory
that they had shocked and impressed the audience.
“The judges were absolutely blown away,” Lindemann
said, “UCLA students were the talk of the National Trumpet
Competition. They have set a new standard for the
future.”
Indeed, UCLA has started a new trend ““ as schools will now
have to start memorizing their pieces if they want a chance at
winning the competition next year.
And although the trumpeters said they were satisfied with their
performances before they even saw the results, they weren’t
there just to have fun.
“I wanted to win,” Bhatia said. “I hate coming
in second, even though there’s always something to learn if I
do.”
Another benefit of the competition that the trumpet students
hadn’t initially considered before their trip was the bonding
experience. While they were only required to be together when they
were performing, the students decided to do everything as a
group.
“We got to know each other really well as
individuals,” Hembd said, “It’s affected us
musically because we now play a lot more cohesively.”
With all seven students returning next year, the ensemble will
definitely be making another appearance in the competition in hopes
of defending their title.
Hembd and Bhatia will also be returning as soloists next year,
although Hembd will be competing in the master’s
division.
“Watching them perform on stage, I felt like a proud
father,” Lindemann said, “I was indescribably proud of
how they performed and handled themselves.”