CFA: What are your responsibilities as a trumpet assistant for BUTI?

Joel: In my role, I would assist Professor Terry Everson and Grammy-award-winning trumpet player Karin Bliznik in rehearsals, masterclasses, getting music, and such. In the first week, Professor Everson and I performed a recital together, where I performed Timofei Dokshizer’s arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue by American composer and pianist George Gershwin. In the morning sessions, we would have a group warm-up class, which I would lead during the second week of the workshop and share my thoughts and approach to trumpet playing. We would have a solo class, where I would share my thoughts and work with students on their solo piece(s) in a masterclass setting along with the directors. In the afternoon, we had trumpet ensemble rehearsals where I would conduct and lead students through trumpet ensemble repertoire while giving comments on dynamics, style, etc. I would also be an extra set of ears or play in the group, while one of the directors conducted.

CFA: How did you learn about this opportunity and what steps did you take to secure it?

Joel: I am a proud BUTI alum (‘17, ‘18) and Professor Everson offered the assistantship to me in Fall 2023 which I happily accepted.

CFA: What are some of your accomplishments from this professional experience?

Joel: Working with some of the most talented high school and young college students across the country on musical repertoire, assisting and teaching alongside the great Professor Terry Everson and Karin Bliznik, and rescuing a bird that was trapped in the birch shed with Karin Bliznik’s assistance.

CFA: Did resources at CFA or BU help you prepare for success? Also, how did your CFA coursework connect with your experience at BUTI?

Joel: Being a graduate student for FA 100 (Doing, Making, & Knowing: The CFA Experience) was a great experience and taught me how to lead classes, and discussions, and be a better teacher, which helped prepare me for this assistantship.

In terms of coursework connecting back, the amount of playing I had to do in ensembles, lessons, and chamber music class helped me expand my musical repertoire and learn different styles, making it easier for me to teach and offer advice to young students working on similar or the same repertoire.

CFA: In what ways do you think this career opportunity has helped you prepare for life after CFA?

Joel: Being a trumpet assistant helped hone in my teaching abilities, and I was able to pick up different teaching styles from Terry Everson and Karin Bliznik which I can utilize for my future students. This was also the first time I had ever worked with students in a masterclass setting, and I learned how to incorporate different techniques into this setting.