Hailed as “one of the foremost performers and teachers of trumpets in the U.S.,” Richard Stoelzel maintains an active career as an international soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Reviewers have called his trumpet playing “virtuosic and lyrical.” Stoelzel began his career as solo cornet with the U.S. Coast Guard Band. As a soloist, he has performed throughout the U.S. and abroad including three highly successful tours of China and as a result earned the title “Distinguished Visiting Professor” at Shenyang Conservatory and Nanchang University in China. A past first place winner of the International Trumpet Guild Orchestra Excerpts Competition, he was a featured soloist at the 2009 ITG Conference. Stoelzel has presented master classes worldwide. He is presently principal trumpet of the Palm Beach Opera Orchestra. Previously he held positions with the Louisiana Philharmonic, Miami City Ballet Orchestra, New World Symphony, Des Moines Opera Orchestra, Ballet Florida Orchestra, and the Colorado Music Festival. He was a founding member of the New World Brass and Avatar Brass. He is co-founder of Drum & Brass, an elite group of professional trumpet players from around the world. Stoelzel can be heard in over 20 compact discs. .His two solo CDs, Born to be Mild and A Mild Fantasie (Albany Records) have received high critical acclaim. A champion of new music, Stoelzel has commissioned over 40 arrangements and original compositions for trumpet solo, brass quintet, trumpet ensemble, trumpet and band, and trios (trumpet, violin, and piano).
Stoelzel is professor of trumpet at Grand Valley State University. His students have consistently won major awards at prestigious competitions including an unprecedented three awards at the 2000 ITG Competition as well as 1st place in the 2007 and 2010 and 2nd in the 2008 ITG Orchestra Excerpts Competition. Under his direction, the GVSU Trumpet Ensemble won the grand prize award at the 2006 and 2008 National Trumpet Competition. His students are playing in numerous orchestras, military bands, and professional chamber ensembles. Stoelzel’s teachers have included Daniel Patrylak, Leon Rapier, Steve Hendrickson, and James Thompson. Richard Stoelzel is a Yamaha Performing Artist. www.richardstoelzel.com
Page last modified April 4, 2012
