Blake Woolsey
Music in Performance from the University of Wyoming in 2014 and completed his Master of Arts in Music at Washington State University in the Spring of 2016. Recently, Blake was invited for a two-month residency to the Shenyang Conservatory of Music in Shenyang, China to perform as lead trumpet with the conservatory’s big band and to coach the group’s brass section. Blake will perform with the ensemble at China’s 3rd Jazz Festival in Shanghai, China in October. Over the years, Blake has performed many different styles of music, with an emphasis on classical music.
His primary instructors of the trumpet were Dr. Scott Meredith (UW) and Dr. David Turnbull (WSU). Blake has also received instruction, either in lessons or masterclasses, from Jose Sibaja, Sam Pilafian, Judith Saxton, Gerard Schwarz, and others. Over the last two years, he has also attended the Boston Brass Summer Intensive at the University of Wyoming with his brass quintet, Grand Avenue Brass. He has served as the principal trumpet player in the top Symphony Orchestras and Wind Ensembles at the University of Wyoming and Washington State University.
Blake is currently one of two trumpet players in the Grand Avenue Brass quintet, and has been an integral part of the group since 2013. During the completion of his master’s degree, Blake frequently performed with groups including the Washington-Idaho Symphony, the Palouse Choral Society, and the Award-Winning WSU Jazz Big Band. In 2015, Blake was chosen as the winner of WSU’s annual Concerto Competition, after which he was featured playing Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto in concert with the orchestra. Since receiving his Master’s degree, Blake has continued performing and teaching music.
