• While trumpet day is open to all ages, the competition is for high school students.
• You must register for the CSU Trumpet Day using the form below.
• You must record any published trumpet étude (no longer than three minutes) and submit it Dr. Stanley Curtis to be considered. The étude may NOT be the same études used for Colorado All-State auditions.
• If accepted to the live final round, the student must play the étude that was originally submitted.
• Prize of $300 offered to the winner.

The Étude Competition is sponsored by Bill Pfund Trumpets

André Bonnici

For more than 23 years, André Bonnici has served as professor of trumpet at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Départemental de Montluçon, France. He is a founding member of the internationally successful trumpet ensemble “Les Trompettes de Lyon” (established in 1989). In addition, he has served as a member of the International Trumpet Guild Board of Directors from 2017 to 2021 and as Chair of the International Trumpet Guild trumpet competitions. He has collaborated with orchestras such as the Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Munich Philharmonic and Munich Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of Camerata de France, Grand Ensemble de Cuivres Guy Touvron, and as principal trumpet of the Montluçon’s Orchestra.

Ashley Hall

Schedule (subject to change):

8:30-9:15 a.m.: Check-in/register (receive t-shirt, group placement, etc.). Please bring the $30 registration fee (cash or check). Please email the media release form and liability waiver to Stanley.Curtis@colostate.edu or bring a printed copy to check-in.

8:30-9:15 a.m.: Exhibits open
9 a.m.: Welcome and Justin Bartels clinic
9:45 a.m.: André Bonnici clinic
10:30 a.m.: Student trumpet ensembles break out to rehearse (need coaches)
11 a.m.: Dr. Ashley Hall clinic
11:45 a.m.: Dr. Mike Hengst clinic (Musical Pit masterclass)
12:30 p.m.: Lunch (pizza, soda, and snacks provided), break: CSU jazz combo performance
1:15 p.m.: Dr. Stanley Curtis Clinic: Historic vs. Modern Instruments
2 p.m.: CSU Grad Brass Quintet (10 min). CSU Trumpet Ensemble (10 min)
2:30 p.m.: Free time to explore vendors
3 p.m.: Etude Competition (finals)
3:30 p.m.: Break
3:45 p.m.: Trumpet Day Concert and Awards Ceremony in the Organ Recital Hall; featuring Trumpet Day attendees
5 p.m.: Gala Concert: 5 p.m. in the Organ Recital Hall; featuring André Bonnici, Ashley Hall, Mike Hengst, Stan Curtis; Free and open to the public

Chloe Swindler

Hailed by the International Trumpet Guild for her “sweet, singing sound” and “shimmering vibrato,” Dr. Chloe Swindler (b. 1995) thrives on finding the sweet spots of blurred genre lines. Her career includes engagements as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, jazz musician, and studio musician. She recently performed with pop singer Harry Styles at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Lizzo at the BET Awards, and Vanessa Williams with the Colour of Music Festival.  

In September 2023, Dr. Swindler launched Trumpet Fundamentals, an innovative online trumpet studio. Rooted in her passion for education and mastery of the instrument, this digital space is crafted to empower trumpet players of all levels to elevate their technique and create personalized practice routines based on their goals.

Dr. Swindler currently serves as a Trumpet Faculty at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts and as an Assistant Professor in the Africana Studies Department at both Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from UCLA, a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston University.

Gabriel Mervine

At a time in music where history and originality never seem to go hand in hand, Gabriel Mervine takes steps every time he picks up his trumpet to bring these two closer together. With a musical upbringing, Gabriel has deeply rooted himself in the traditions of Jazz and Classical music while at the same time contributing to the modern music scene. He wishes to leave no stone unturned and no genre unexplored because in his mind, all music has the power to make the artist who he/she is.

Born in Princeton, New Jersey, Gabriel began his professional playing career at the age of thirteen. By the time he graduated high school he was already looking at making a career out of playing the trumpet. He then went to the Colorado University at Boulder for Jazz Studies, but after one year decided to dedicate his time to becoming a working trumpet player, which would include continuing his studies privately with people such as Bobby Shew, Roger Ingram, and Greg Gisbert, just to name a few.

Gabriel quickly gained recognition and began performing with people such as Natalie Cole, Christian McBride, The Clayton/Hamilton Orchestra, The Colorado Symphony, The Temptations, Terence Blanchard, Lettuce, Karl Denson, John Scofield, Hugh Jackman, Lonnie Smith, Russell Malone, The Who, Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, Wycliff Gordon, Sean Jones, Roberta Gambarini, the Motet, and Houston Person while also building a strong freelance career playing everything from Mariachi to Mahler. Gabriel now resides in Denver, Colorado and keeps a rigorous schedule of local and national performances. He is currently seeking to broaden his musical repertoire with his own groups stretching into more modern original works while simultaneously trying to keep the music that inspired him at such a young age alive and well.

Peter Bond was a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 1992-2020. Prior to his appointment to the “Met,” he was principal trumpet of the New Mexico Symphony, and before that, a busy freelance musician in Atlanta where he played a wide variety of engagements. Mr. Bond has appeared with the New York Philharmonic, the NYC Ballet, NYC Opera, Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Ballet, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and is in demand as a soloist and clinician. These days, Mr. Bond is back in New Mexico where he teaches and is once again freelancing. He is the author of a unique and acclaimed method book, The Singing Trumpet published by Carl Fischer. 

Bill Pfund received his Bachelor of Music from the Dana School of Music of Youngstown University and his Master of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music. He has studied trumpet with Esotto Pellegrini, principal trumpet with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and Roger Voisin, former principal trumpet with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.