Edwards Performing Artist Ronnie Ingle

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2011

Abstract

Edwards Performing Artist Ronnie Ingle

By Miranda Hilgers, Reporter

“It is an honor... its very much something that I’m extremely excited about.” Ronnie Ingle is an Assistant Professor of Music in the Music Department. He’s been a professional trumpeter for twenty-seven years, and recently reached a new level in his career when he became an Edwards Performing Artist.

“I’ve always wanted this – I’ve had posters of Alan Vizzutti and Bobby Shew, and it says Yamaha performing artist, and I’m thinking ‘I’ll never be at that level’... I can’t believe it, its really fantastic.” Now to his great pleasure (and disbelief), he has his own poster.

Edwards Instruments is well-known for producing some of the best trumpets and trombones on the market, and Ingle will now join a handful of the top brass artists from around the world representing the brand. But how does one become an Edwards Performing Artist? “I was in the market for a trumpet... I heard about Edwards, I’ve heard a lot of colleagues and friends say ‘you have to try this out’, and these people know what they’re doing.”

Ingle went directly to the Edwards factory in Elkhorn, WI to sample different horn styles and to create his own custom modular trumpet. He was instantly impressed with their level of customer service. “... they cleared their schedule, they spent all day going through everything from A to Z with me... the marriage between the artist and the manufacturer was fantastic.”

And the customer service wasn’t the only thing to get excited about. “I was immediately convinced, this is going to work. By the end of today, I’m going to come up with something that is just... perfect.” Ingle tested out dozens of different trumpets until he found a modular configuration that suited his playing needs.

Throughout the day, the Edwards representatives were impressed by his playing style and technique. As they got to know him, they learned about some of his career achievements, which include appearing as a guest artist and soloist in Sweden with the Sundsvalls Orchestra in November 2008. Ingle was also a featured artist at the Sundsvalls Jazz Club, the largest jazz venue in Sweden. These series of concerts were very well-received and garnered tremendous critical acclaim in a variety of press venues.

As a crossover artist, Ingle plays a variety of styles of trumpet, ranging from jazz to classical. This gives him a unique opportunity to utilize the versatile design of the new Edwards modular trumpets, which can be reconfigured easily to create a different tone and feel for the artist. By the end of the day, it was clear he would be a great representative for the Edwards brand.

This was the icing on the cake for Ingle, who was ecstatic just to find the trumpet he’d always wanted, tailored specifically to his playing style. “I’m a trumpet player, I spend my life doing this all day, every day, and I’m leaving in tears thinking ‘I can’t believe what I just got.’”

Ingle won’t waste any time getting out and promoting the Edwards name. His active performance schedule includes instructing, soloing, and serving on the faculty at the Festival Internacional de Musica Colonial Brasileira e Musica Antiga in Minas Gerais, Brazil this summer. He will also put on a series of concerts in the Czech Republic, including a performance at the Prague Conservatory of Music.

Locally, Ingle performs as principal trumpeter with the University of North Dakota Faculty Contemporary Music Ensemble, and appears as soloist and clinician with several local and regional groups.

With all of these upcoming events, its easy to get the impression that Ingle’s career as a teacher might take a backseat to his professional life. He insists that would never be the case. “I’ll be here at UND teaching, no doubt about it. That’s my primary job, and I’m quite happy with that. My [trumpet] studio is every bit as important as my performing career.” Exactly what one would expect from a 2009 UND Outstanding Teaching Award nominee. Ingle says that he’s known since high school that his dream was to teach trumpet at a university, and is pleased that UND supports his performing endeavors, as well as this new Edwards Performing Artist honor.

“I’m very happy to be associated with Edwards. I might have been an artist with another company, but to be with Edwards and have an Edwards instrument is really great, and I’m looking forward to the things I’ll be doing in the next few years, which will sort of fulfill what I’ve always wanted to do with my trumpet career.”

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