About the Festival
The Midwest Trumpet Festival was founded in 2009 and brings together leading performers, educators, students, and community for an intensive two days of large and small continuing education sessions, master classes, recitals, and concerts.
Directed by Dr. Todd Hastings, professor of Trumpet at Pittsburg State University, it is held in the stunning Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, designed and constructed by world renowned theater architects.
Past festivals have featured Wayne Bergeron, Julian Kaplan, Louis McFadden, the Romm Family Trio, Jens Lindemann, Joe Burgstaller, and many more acclaimed artists.
2024 Festival Information
This year's featured guest performers:
Dr. Deborah Caldwell, Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Southeast Missouri State University, has performed with a variety of prestigious ensembles and has a rich academic background. She studied trumpet at the University of Georgia, Kansas State University, and Ouachita Baptist University. Her doctoral research explored tragic trumpet solos written in response to September 11th. Dr. Caldwell has performed in over eight countries, fostering connections through music.
Aren Van Houzen, Assistant Professor of Music at Truman State University, holds prominent roles in multiple musical groups, including Orchestra Iowa and the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. His career spans performances as a soloist, collaborations with musicians like Wynton Marsalis and Emanuel Ax, and tours with bands such as Foreigner and Styx. Aren also brings experience as a custom trumpet technician and former owner of Van Houzen Brewing Company.
TJ Perry, Associate Professor of Trumpet at Arkansas Tech University, is a versatile musician active in Classical, Jazz, and Commercial music. He has performed with numerous symphonies, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and shared the stage with legends like Doc Severinsen. TJ's academic achievements include a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University, where his secondary focus was on Musician Health and Wellness. He currently resides in Russellville, Arkansas, with his family and is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
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Bios
TJ Perry
TJ Perry is the Associate Professor of Trumpet at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas. Equally at home in the Classical, Jazz, and Commercial worlds, TJ enjoys an active career as a soloist, clinician, and educator. TJ recently held the positions of principal trumpet with the Johnson City (TN) Symphony Orchestra, second trumpet with the Brasswind Quintet, and is the current principal trumpet with the progressive chamber ensemble The Detroit Brass Company. Previously, he served on the faculties of Albion College, Spring Arbor University, and Grand Valley State University.
In February of 2014, TJ performed with the Michigan State University Wind Symphony as principal trumpet in the 10-year anneversary celebration of Pulitzer Prize winning composer John Corigliano’s Symphony 3: Circus Maximus at Carnegie Hall. As a member of the Michigan State University Trumpet Ensemble, TJ has participated in the Orvieto Musica Trumpet Festival in Italy,Exploring Trumpet in Greece with Vince Dimartino and Gerassimos Ioannidis, and the 2013 International Trumpet Guild Conference. As a member of the Cross Street Jazz Ensemble, TJ performed at the 2009 Detroit International Jazz Festival. Additionally, TJ has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Oak Ridge Symphony Orchestra, former Tonight Show bandleader and international soloist Doc Severinsen, international trumpet soloist Vince DiMartino, and Detroit based jazz legend Marcus Belgrave. In 2010 was a semi-finalist for the graduate division of the National Trumpet Competition.
In the spring of 2016 TJ completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University, where he served as the Doctoral Teaching Assistant for the trumpet studio. His secondary focus area was Musician Health and Wellness, and the exploration of immersive performance concepts using extra-musical elements like lighting, multimedia, and original graphic elements. TJ studied at The University of Tennessee- Knoxville for the Master of Music degree as the Graduate Teaching Assistant and Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI for his bachelors degree.
Principal teachers have included Rich Illman (Michigan State University), Justin Emerich (Michigan State University), Dr. Cathy Leach (University of Tennessee), Carter Eggers (Eastern Michigan University), and Dr. Judy Palac (Michigan State University- Healthy Musicianship and Body Mapping). Additional instruction has come from Mark Byerly (University of Toledo), Vince DiMartino (international soloist) Doc Severinsen (international soloist), William Campbell (University of Michigan), and John Hagstrom (second trumpet, Chicago Symphony Orchestra).
TJ resides in Russellville, Arkansas with his wife Jessica, and two sons Jackson and Lucas.
TJ is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
Aren Van Houzen
Aren Van Houzen is a renowned trumpeter with a broad career, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Music at Truman State University where he teaches trumpet. He also holds notable positions with several musical groups, including serving as Second Trumpet for Orchestra Iowa, Principal Trumpet for the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Durward Ensemble and Orquesta Alto Maiz. In addition to his academic role, Aren recruits and maintains a private studio for aspiring trumpeters.
His career spans performing as a featured soloist, including recent performances such as the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto with the Quincy Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with distinguished musicians like Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and pianist Emanuel Ax, and has premiered works by Grammy-winning composer Michael Daugherty.
Aren's industry experience includes touring with major acts like Weird Al Yankovic, Foreigner, Styx, and Art Garfunkel. He also apprenticed with mouthpiece and mute manufacturers, providing custom trumpet alterations. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Aren owned and operated Van Houzen Brewing Company from 2011 to 2017.
His education includes a B.Mus from Hope College (1994) and an M.A. and D.M.A. from the University of Iowa (1996, 2008).
Dr. Deborah Caldwell
Dr. Deborah Caldwell, is the Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, MO. She has performed with groups such as EuroBrass, Fountain City Brass Band, King's Brass, Paducah Symphony, Owensboro Symphony, the South Carolina Brass Band, and Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. She is originally from Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and has previously served on the faculty of Frostburg State University and Erskine College. In addition to trumpet instruction, she has taught chamber music, aural skills, theory, and music education courses.
Dr. Caldwell studied trumpet at the University of Georgia (Mr. Phillip Smith), Kansas State University (Dr. Gary Mortenson), and Ouachita Baptist University (Dr. Craig Hamilton). Her doctoral research concluded in a dissertation lecture recital entitled, “Tragic Accents: A Study of Five Tragic Lyric Trumpet solos Written for September 11th.” Dr. Caldwell has performed in over eight countries; she is grateful for opportunities to bring people together around music.
