16 Hawkeye student trumpeters will compete in multiple divisions.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026

The University of Iowa School of Music will host the prestigious National Trumpet Competition (NTC) March 19-22, 2026, in Iowa City. More than 800 of the country’s best trumpeters from middle school to graduate school will gather in Voxman Music Building to compete in seven divisions: Middle School, High School, College, Graduate, Jazz, High School Trumpet Ensemble, and Collegiate Trumpet Ensemble. 16 trumpet students from the University of Iowa will compete, in both solo and ensemble divisions.

The entire event is free and open to the public. The competition and performance schedule is posted at https://nationaltrumpetcomp.org/. 

In addition to the competition performances, NTC will include master classes and performances from virtuoso artists and famous performing ensembles, including the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, who will perform with Rex Richardson as the soloist on Friday, March 20, at 7:30pm in Voxman Concert Hall. Attendees will also have the opportunity to connect with representatives from the International Trumpet Guild, Interlochen Center for the Arts, DownBeat Magazine, the Army & Marine and Navy band programs.

NTC was founded in 1991 by UI alumnus and Grammy Music Educator Award Nominee Dennis Edelbrock (1975 BM). An annual music competition for students in the US, it is the world's largest music competition. 18,000 students from all backgrounds and representing 46 states have performed at NTC and benefited from its educational and artistic opportunities since its inception. It has the largest slate of judges (80 per year) as well as the largest number of competitors of any music competition in the world. This year's event is organized and hosted by Michael Gause, assistant professor in the University of Iowa School of Music. 

The University of Iowa students performing are:

Graduate Solo Division

Johsua Levy

Undergraduate Solo Division

Natalie Roth

Large Ensemble Division

Octet 1:

  • Ryan Banks
  • Jace Barry
  • Laura Carrico
  • Maxwell Gradisher
  • Anna Kelly
  • Joshua Levy
  • Ignacio Perez
  • Natalie Roth

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Octet 2:

  • Emily Bach
  • James Bourgeois
  • Morgan Brantman
  • Tyler Cook
  • Dominic Gerleman
  • Ashton Heim
  • Asa Leonard-Newton
  • Alecci Young