The 49th Annual International Trumpet Guild Conference - Salt Lake City, Utah (USA)
Special Daily Report • Compiled by Peter Wood
Photos by Seth Ian Mower

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

Welcome to the online blog for the 49th annual ITG Conference! As ITG publications editor, I’m excited to launch this year’s conference reporting and share the experience with readers near and far. Our talented team of writers is on the ground in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah—surrounded by incredible mountain views and the charm of a clean, welcoming city. From inspiring performances to insightful sessions, we’ll be bringing you highlights of the events and moments that define this special week. There is a vibrant energy here as trumpeters of all ages and backgrounds come together to learn, connect, and celebrate the art of trumpet playing. We hope you enjoy following along!

Opening Fanfare with Terry Everson
The Opening Fanfare kicked off this year’s conference with a blast. Spectators and performers enjoyed hearing Tiffany Johns’s Fanfare to the Stars conducted by Terry Everson and played by about 100 trumpeters of all ages in the beautiful courtyard of the Grand American Hotel. With sweeping melodies that weaved through brilliant fanfares, the ensemble played cohesively, combining a rich sound with tasteful high notes. Everyone enjoyed the performance, and it was a great start to what looks to be a fantastic conference in Salt Lake City. (Spencer Wallin)

Session: Bridging Gaps, Building Bridges
This new town-hall-style panel featured leading trumpet voices Oscar Passley, Mary Thornton, Bria Skonberg, and Steven Cunningham, moderated by George Carpton IV. Each panelist introduced themselves and the communities they represent, opening the floor to an honest, genuine dialogue.

This format encouraged a blend of humility and vulnerability, as panelists shared both career highlights and challenges. The result was a powerful, humanizing experience that resonated with attendees. The session served as a meaningful reminder of ITG’s goal to support all trumpet players and celebrate the full spectrum of the trumpet community across genres, backgrounds, and experiences. (Molly Collins)

Opening Concert: Terry Everson and Utah Symphony Brass
Salt Lake City’s historic Cathedral of Madeleine was a breathtaking venue for the conference’s opening evening concert. The superb acoustics in this space were immediately evident with an outstanding prelude performance by the Utah State University Trumpet Ensemble. The group’s memorized performance of Erik Morales’s Infinite Ascent featured beautiful warmth, lyricism, perfect balance on the lush harmonies, and brilliance throughout the faster fanfare sections.

Soprano Michaela Shelton and organist Gabriele Terrone then joined Terry Everson, who has performed at over a dozen ITG Conferences, for Alessandro Scarlatti’s “Si suoni la tromba” and “Si reiscaldi il Tebro” from Seven Arias with Solo Trumpet. Outstanding lightness, smoothness, and lyricism were displayed throughout, as well as inspiring ornaments, as the soloists drew energy from each other. The standing-room-only crowd acknowledged this beautiful and captivating performance with extensive applause.

For the following three selections, Everson and Terrone moved to the organ loft, behind the audience. Gabriel Fauré’s Vocalise included an immaculate blend with organ, and the singing sounds of the trumpet were glorious, with every note perfectly shaped and chanted–the final one first arriving and then fading to nothing. Mezzo-soprano Elani Matos beautifully performed Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “The Harvest of Sorrows,” Op. 4, No. 5 alone before being joined by Everson for another aria by Rachmaninoff, “O, Cease Thy Singing Maiden Fair,” Op. 4, No. 4. Both works were arranged by Conference Director Rebecca Wilt.

The first half of the program concluded with Everson’s songfulness, effortlessly soaring into the clarino register on the aria “Zurücke, zurücke, gelflügelten Winde” from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cantata, BWV 205, arranged by Marie-Claire Alain. This electrifying rendition was a fitting close to the first half of the concert.

After intermission, the Utah Symphony Brass Ensemble, under the direction of Brian Sproul, performed a highly exciting rendition of Richard Strauss’s monumental Ein Alpensinfonie, arranged by Jay Friedman. With trumpeters Travis Peterson, Seretta Hart, Jeff Luke, Kyra Sovronsky, Peyden Shelton, and Paul Torrisi, the ensemble’s grand instrumentation also included eight horns, four trombones, a euphonium, two tubas, three percussionists, timpani, and organ. The sounds were epic with the majesty and power of these fine musicians in this magnificent space. Featuring this top-rate symphony orchestra with a fantastic brass transcription in a historic and acoustically blessed location served as a glorious conference opener that fittingly garnered a rousing standing ovation. (Luis Engelke)

Opening Reception and Awards Presentation
The opening reception honored four most-deserving individuals in our trumpet orbit.  It opened with a fanfare honoring Boyde Hood, who received the ITG Honorary Award. Ryan Gardner, TJ Tesh, Mike Zonshine, Marty Frear, and Rob Frear performed the tribute before sharing what Mr. Hood meant to their lives and careers. Following Hood’s remarks, musical visionary John Wallace was presented with the ITG Honorary Award, after which the audience was treated to a prerecorded acceptance speech from the Scottish-born legend. The ITG Award of Merit was presented to Dr. Cathy Leach, who served as principal trumpet of the Knoxville Symphony, professor at the University of Tennessee, and ITG president. Leach’s speech focused on what ITG has meant to her. The inaugural Bill Pfund Service Award was then presented to Dixie Burress, ITG Treasurer from 2007 to 2022.  After Pfund’s remarks about her monumental impact on ITG, she delivered her own remarks of appreciation. (Davy DeArmond)