Author Archives: mjdtrumpet

Summer Symposium: July 7-14, 2025Smoky Mountains, Tennessee A P E X is North America’s premiere in-person summer trumpet symposium. From the majestic heights of Tennessee’s Smokey Mountains, a stone’s throw from Knoxville, participants hone their creative voices in a stunning mountaintop lodge. Participants enjoy private lessons, topic lectures, non-traditional interactive masterclasses from world-class artists, timeContinue reading “Harper Park Mascot goes to Tennessee!”

As I write this the performing arts are struggling to make their comeback after the COVID Pandemic has essentially shut down our world. While waiting we have practiced. Some of us have continued our educations and completed school. I graduated with my Masters of Music in Trumpet Performance from George Mason University in May ofContinue reading “2021 Masters of Music”

It’s time to catch up and post on WordPress!  Since last I wrote, I have been playing gigs and teaching trumpet to young students.  I also spent some time studying the Roy Stevens method of trumpet performance.  This new method makes it possible for me to play high notes…something I have wanted to do forContinue reading “15 January 2017 Update”

Here is my 1968 Bach Strad before restoration.   You can see that the lacquer finish has worn away a lot, especially in the valve area probably due to the acidic nature of the human hand. And here is my horn after Charlie Melk’s fantastic restoration.  Charlie removed the dents & polished the horn toContinue reading “1968 Bach Strad: before and after restoration”

April 30, 2016 Ceremony to Honor Vietnam War Veterans & Servicewomen of the Vietnam War photo by Christine Phelps Anthony, DAR  member Today I had the honor of playing TAPS at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.  The Stone Bridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) from Loudoun, Virginia conducted thisContinue reading “Stone Bridge DAR Wreath-Laying”

Charlie received my trumpet and gave me some good news:  my horn has no red rot and it is in great shape!   So the plan is to clean the trumpet via the Ultrasonic Method Here’s Charlie’s explanation of Ultrasonic cleaning from his website  (www.charliesbrassworks.com): This ultrasonic machine is designed specifically for cleaning brass instruments.Continue reading “Bach Strad restoration begins!”

I spoke with master trumpet repairman Charlie Melk and was able to get a spot in his work schedule.  Charlie is considered the best brass repairman around and I feel lucky to have him working on my trumpet.  My trumpet needed to be at Charlie’s shop by the end of April.  So with a littleContinue reading “Bach Strad Makes It to Charlie Melk!”