Missouri Southern students advance in national trumpet competition

(From Southern News Service)

Two students from Missouri Southern State University’s Music Department have advanced to the semifinal round of the National Trumpet Competition, to be held March 8-10 at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

Oliver Smith, a junior music performance major from Carthage, and Seth Marshall, a sophomore instrumental education from Ankeny, Iowa, were selected for the competition after each submitted performance videos. The top three finalists will advance to the finals during the competition.

“The sheer drive these students have is amazing,” said Freddie Green, assistant professor of music. “They both said, ‘I’m going to the National Trumpet Competition.’ There was no question. Some students said they wanted to go, these two said, ‘I’m going.’”

Smith said he practices two or three hours day – a minimum two hours a day total – in preparation for the competition.

“I didn’t make it last year, but I did this year,” he said. But he has his sights set beyond the semifinal round. “I hope we can make the finals.”

Green said the students’ work ethic is what has brought them this far.

“This is a great reflection on the students here at Missouri Southern,” he said.