Schroeder Student Awarded Prestigious International Trumpet Guild Scholarship

Webster Schroeder High School senior Nate F. has been awarded a prestigious jazz trumpet scholarship to attend the 50th Annual International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conference. The milestone event will take place this May at the renowned Eastman School of Music in Rochester.

Nate, who learned of his selection in mid-February, earned the scholarship by submitting two video performances showcasing his exceptional solo and improvisational skills. The award covers his full attendance at the three-day conference and includes a $250 prize, which will be presented to him during a Saturday morning ceremony.

The ITG Conference promises three days of master classes led by professional trumpeters, panel discussions, extraordinary performances, and industry exhibits. 

For Nate, the conference represents an exciting opportunity to connect with the wider musical community. When asked what he is looking forward to most, his answer was simple: “Just play a couple of horns and meet people.”

Nate's musical journey began in fourth grade at Plank Road North Elementary School. Though he initially wanted to play percussion or flute, he was steered toward the trumpet and trombone. The instrument hardly mattered to him, as long as he was playing.

“No matter what I played, I would have liked it because I like music,” Nate shared. “Every school day I was excited at the end of the day to go home because I wanted to play.”

Today, that dedication is highly visible. While it is unusual for young musicians to cross over between styles, Nate actively performs in both jazz and classical settings. His impressive resume includes:

• Webster Schroeder Ensembles: Jazz Ensemble and Wind Ensemble
• Regional Orchestras: Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and Eastman Youth Jazz Orchestra
• Statewide Honors: Selected for the All-State Jazz Ensemble for the last two years
• Summer Programs: Attended the Eastman Summer Academy for the past two summers

Nate’s growth as a musician has been guided by a strong network of educators. His journey started with Sarah Mossey at Plank North, continued under the guidance of instructors like Allen Lis, Kara Stringer, and Jolene Harrigan at Spry Middle School, and flourished with Peter Lindblom at Webster Schroeder.

A pivotal moment occurred during the 2022-23 school year when guest jazz guitarist Bob Sneider visited Webster Schroeder to perform with the jazz band. Sneider took note of Nate’s impressive trumpet solos and shared his praise with a friend—Webster CSD music educator Laura D’Angelo. Her husband, Ron D’Angelo, is a professional jazz trumpeter with Prime Time Funk, Gap Mangione, and Bad Sneakers, among others, and he soon took Nate on as a student.

This connection opened new doors for Nate, leading him to further his education under top-tier professionals. In addition to Lindblom and D’Angelo, his current teachers include Eastman jazz trumpet professor Clay Jenkins, professional trumpeter Mike Kaupa, and Eastman instructor Herb Smith.

With his senior year wrapping up, Nate continues to push his technical boundaries. His favorite part of playing the trumpet?
“The high notes!” he says. “I just got them this year. I can play up to a G sharp and an A.”

Looking beyond high school, Nate hopes to attend the Eastman School of Music to pursue dual degrees in music education and jazz trumpet performance. His ultimate long-term goal is to become a great jazz player, touring the world with fellow musicians.