Twin Cities Trumpet Day!
June 4th, 2023
The Trumpet Shop at Schmitt Music is excited to host a day filled with all things trumpet at Schmitt Music Bloomington! Join us following the International Trumpet Guild conference held here in Minneapolis for Twin Cities Trumpet Day with special guests Dr. Luke Spence and Lotus Mouthpieces.
RSVP now to reserve your spot!
Questions about Trumpets? Contact Dr. Ben Elgan, Director of Trumpet Sales, at trumpetshop@schmittmusic.com. Other inquiries may be directed to Schmitt Music Bloomington at 763-566-4560.
Twin Cities Trumpet Day is a celebration of all things trumpet, and filled with events for trumpeters of all ages and abilities. Explore the Trumpet shop and work with a specialist to fine tune your setup. Lotus Mouthpieces will be on site with an expanded inventory selection for all performance settings: jazz, orchestral, chamber and more.
In the afternoon, enjoy a queer-focused recital program from our guest artist Dr. Luke Spence, visiting Assistant Professor of trumpet at SUNY Potsdam. His recital “Wouldn’t That Be Queer: Rethinking the Traditional Narrative” combines traditional and contemporary works for solo trumpet through the lens of self expression. Following the recital, Dr. Spence will conduct a masterclass for trumpet students.
Schedule of Events
Throughout the day visit with trumpet specialists in the Brass Shop and explore our wide range of trumpet-specific products and accessories. Our specialists can help you define your sound and select a setup to elevate your playing.
This event is generously sponsored by Lotus Trumpets, S.E. Shires, and Dennis Wick.
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10 AM – Group Warmup with Dr. Ben Elgan
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11 PM – Explore the Trumpet Shop
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12 PM – Large Ensemble Rehearsal
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1 PM – Lotus Trumpets & Adam Rapa
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5:30PM – “Wouldn’t That be Queer: Rethinking the Traditional Narrative” Recital by guest artist Dr. Luke Spence
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6:30 PM – Masterclass with Dr. Luke Spence
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7:30 PM – Meet & Greet
Dr. Luke Spence enjoys a multi-faceted career as a performer, educator, and recording artist. He is the Visiting Assistant Professor of Trumpet at the SUNY Potsdam Crane School of Music, second trumpet of both the Washington Chamber Orchestra and South Florida Symphony, and a member of the chamber groups Anima Brass and the Potsdam Brass Quintet. He is proud to be a performing artist for Denis Wick Products and S.E. Shires Co.
Praised by Fanfare Magazine for his “great artistry”, labeled “exquisite” by the International Trumpet Guild Journal, and hailed as “a true expert in phrasing” by the NACWPI Journal, Spence’s debut solo album 20th Century Art Songs offers a fresh approach to the genre of vocal transcriptions and highlights repertoire seldom explored by instrumentalists. The album was recently honored as a finalist for The American Prize. As a freelance orchestral musician, Spence has performed with numerous ensembles including the National Philharmonic, Fairfax Symphony, Lancaster Symphony, Reading Symphony, Mid-Atlantic Symphony, Orchestra of Northern New York, and The New Orchestra of Washington. Over the years, he has performed at the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center, toured throughout the U.S., Europe, and China, and was a featured soloist with the Washington Sinfonietta.
Prior to his appointment at SUNY Potsdam, Dr. Spence served as Lecturer of Trumpet at Frostburg State University, Instructor of Trumpet at Frederick Community College, and Director of the Young Artists of America Trumpet Academy. In 2020, he created and served as director for a new brass ensemble and repertoire course at the University of Maryland School of Music, which continues to thrive and grow today. In recent years, Spence has given masterclasses at institutions such as Colorado State University, the University of Akron, Towson University, the University of Maryland, and the Music for All Mid-Atlantic Regional Concert Band Festival. Additionally, he has chaired and served as a judge for competitions at the International Women’s Brass Conference and the International Trumpet Guild Conference.
A firm believer that music has the power to be an agent of social change, Spence is a founding Board of Directors member of the International Pride Orchestra, a non-profit charity orchestra that brings together LGBTQIA+ musicians from around the world to present concerts, celebrate community, and raise funds for LGBTQIA+ causes.
Spence earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts and Master of Music at the University of Maryland, where he studied with Distinguished Professor Chris Gekker. He also holds a Bachelor of Music with a minor in musicology from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Associate Professor Roy Poper and was the recipient of the 2014 James Stamp Award.
