UGA Music Student Will Tomaszewski Wins National Trumpet Award

Story by Shaun Baer, Photo by Zoe Lanham

Athens, GA – The Hugh Hodgson School of Music (HHSOM) is proud to announce that Will Tomaszewski, a Bachelor of Music student in Trumpet Performance, has won 1st place in the Vincent Bach Undergraduate Solo Division at the National Trumpet Competition (NTC) finals held at Texas Christian University March 13-16, 2025.

Expected to graduate in May 2026, Tomaszewski previously secured 2nd place in the Yamaha Military Band Excerpt Division at the National Trumpet Competition in 2024 and also participated in the Eastern Music Festival in 2024, where he studied under Chris Gekker and Alex Wilborn. These national award adds to Tomaszewski’s list of accolades, including the University of Georgia (UGA) Cora Miller Fine Arts Scholarship in the spring of 2023 and the HHSOM Fred Mills Memorial Scholarship for the academic year 2024-2025.

Tomaszewski has played the trumpet for 11 years, and now studies under Philip Smith and Brandon Craswell at UGA. Will has played principal trumpet in the UGA Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the UGA Wind Ensemble and British Brass Band, directed by Philip Smith.  Will was a finalist in the UGA Concerto Competition in 2023 and 2024.

The National Trumpet Competition (NTC), founded by Dr. Dennis Edlebrock, is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing an inclusive, student-centered experience that advances artistry, education, and professional growth. Since its inception in 1992, NTC has offered performing opportunities, master classes, exhibition concerts, and an educational, supportive environment for over 3,000 students from more than 40 states and six foreign countries. The competition features hundreds of Artist Faculty members from universities and symphony orchestras nationwide who volunteer their time and expertise to judge these talented young musicians.

NTC also hosts performances by some of the trumpet world's greatest artists, including Canadian Brass, Grammy Award Winner Arturo Sandoval, Doc Severinsen, Maynard Ferguson, Phil Smith, Tim Morrison, Jens Lindemann, Allen Vizzutti, and many others who generously support the competition.