The Kentucky Baroque Trumpets will add a historical element to this year’s Wartburg College Trumpet Festival.

Performing on baroque trumpets without valves as well as modern instruments, the group will appear in a Thursday, March 21, trumpet recital and as featured soloists in the Trumpet Festival Finale Concert on Friday, March 22.

Both events will begin at 7 p.m. in the Wartburg Chapel and are open to the public. Donations will be accepted in lieu of admission charge. 

More than 25 select high school trumpet players will join Wartburg’s 19-member Trumpet Choir for the festival under the direction of Dr. Scott Muntefering of the Wartburg music department. The festival opens March 21 with a 2:30 p.m. master class by the Kentucky Baroque Trumpets in Orchestra Hall of Bachman Fine Arts Center. The master class and rehearsals and clinics scheduled on Friday are open to area musicians as well as festival participants.

The Thursday-night recital will feature the Kentucky Baroque Trumpets as well as Muntefering; Dr. Karen Black, Wartburg professor of music and college organist; and Wartburg student percussionist Brittany Louk of Webster City. 

The Friday Finale Concert will include performances by the High School Trumpet Choir, the Wartburg Trumpet Choir, the Kentucky Baroque Trumpets and a massed piece for all festival participants.

Founded in 2005 by Don Johnson, Kentucky Baroque Trumpets won the Historic Ensemble Division at the 2007 National Trumpet Competition and appear in concerts and at Civil War events throughout the country. The group gained nationwide exposure performing as part of a Civil War Era band, President Lincoln’s Own, in the movie “Lincoln.” 

Johnson said his group “recreates the sound and styles of the baroque trumpet, including signal calls, cavalry music, dance music, duets and solos.” The musicians also perform on modern instruments. 

According to Johnson, many familiar pieces of music heard on television and radio and at weddings were written for trumpet during the baroque era, but are now performed on piccolo trumpet.

“We demonstrate the difference in tone of a modern trumpet and piccolo trumpet compared to a baroque trumpet,” Johnson said. “Next, we explain to the audience how valves work and why they were invented to help the trumpeter not only play better in tune, but also to miss less notes. 

Providing funding for the Wartburg Trumpet Festival are the Yamaha Corp., Kephart’s Music in Decorah and several private donors.

High school Trumpet Festival participants include:

• Aplington-Parkersburg High School: Michael Howard and Andy Smith
• Ar-We-Va High School, Westside: Olivia Mumm
• Belmond-Klemme High School: Garret Griffioen, Jeremy Nash, and John Pfilbsen
• Holmes Junior High School, Cedar Falls: Isaac Smith
• Cedar Rapids Prairie High School: Josh Kacena
• Davenport Assumption High School: Alyssa DeLoach and Laura Blaser
• Don Bosco High School, Gilbertville: Jason Becker, Kelly Berry, and Sean McFadden
• Gladbrook-Reinbeck High School: Shelby Yates, Jesse Royer, and Carley Crozier
• North Cedar Middle School: Pavin Esbaum
• North Tama High School: Alexia Taylor and Claire Dahmo
• Tripoli High School: Kieran Boldt and Allison Little
• Waverly-Shell Rock High School: Ryan Johnson
• West Branch High School: Samm Rozinek and Rachel Christian
• West Central High School, Maynard: Chase Grimm and Matthew Langel 

Members of the Wartburg College Trumpet Choir are:

IOWA

• Algona: Dan Haack, son of Harry and Jeanine Haack; Rebecca Jennings, daughter of Robert and Marlys Jennings
• Armstrong: Chas Beeler, son of Becky Kinnander, and Charlie Beeler of Des Moines
• Central City: Sarah White, daughter of Jeffrey and Carol White
• Denver: Ellie Oberheu, daughter of Mark Oberheu, and Nichole Oberheu of Tripoli
• Gilbertville: Amanda Schares, daughter of Dale and Leigh Schares
• Indianola: Sarah Wickett, daughter of Steven and Linda Wickett
• Lockridge: Tanner Stutzman, son of John and Tonya Stutzman
• Nashua: Jeanne Edson, daughter of Laurie Kristiansen, and Charles Edson of Ionia
• Reinbeck: Kristina Schott, daughter of Allan and Marlene Schott
• Swan: Adriana Gonzalez, daughter of Robert and Victoria Miller
• Waverly: Joe Amsberry, son of Robert and Erin Amsberry

COLORADO

• Fort Collins: Jeremy Idler, son of Ruth Idler and Darwin Idler

ILLINOIS

• Washington: Kelsey Brown, daughter of Stephen and Raylee Brown

MINNESOTA

• Edina: Ryan Henderson, son of David and Kristine Henderson
• Lino Lakes: Amanda Groff, daughter of Mark and Keralyn Groff
• Mora: Abigail Blake, daughter of Jay and the Rev. Lori Blake
• Zumbrota: Colton Thoreson, son of James and Taryn Thoreson

NEBRASKA

• Gretna: Alex Harrison, son of Christopher and Kristine Harrison