Jacksonville, AL — As frst reported by Brett Buckner with the JSU media department, Jacksonville State University’s Trumpet Studio has been invited to perform at the renowned TrumpetFest at Orvieto Musica in Orvieto, Italy, this June. The week-long intensive program is part of the larger Orvieto Musica summer festival—an immersive musical and cultural experience that attracts musicians from across the world.
Led by Dr. Christopher D. Probst, professor of trumpet in the David L. Walters Department of Music, Jax State’s Trumpet Studio has earned national recognition for its excellence. “The Trumpet Studio has a long-standing tradition of excellence, having attended conferences and competitions throughout the Southeast and on the national level for many years,” Dr. Probst said.
In 2024, Dr. Probst was invited to perform and teach at TrumpetFest, where nine Jax State students participated. Their performance left a lasting impression. “Due to the extraordinary performances and collegiality of our students, we were given an open invitation to attend in the future,” he said. “The summer of 2026 presented itself as a fantastic opportunity to attend again, and we have 15 interested students this time.”
The 14-day trip will cost approximately $3,000 per student, covering the $1,500 festival fee and travel expenses. Students will also have the opportunity to explore Rome and Pompeii, adding a cultural dimension to their musical journey.
Dr. Probst described the experience as transformative for past participants. “If you were to ask any of the students who attended this festival in 2024, they will tell you it was a transformative experience in their lives,” he said. “Not only musically, but in learning about another culture, living in a foreign country, and making music with other musicians from universities across the US and internationally.”
Among the memorable aspects of the Italian experience, Dr. Probst highlighted “Reposo,” a daily two-hour rest period during which the town of Orvieto shuts down. “In the midst of rehearsals and performances,” he explained, “the whole town shuts down for two hours in the afternoon to encourage everyone to stop, rest, relax, and simply enjoy being in such a beautiful place.”
The Jax State Trumpet Studio is one of the largest undergraduate trumpet studios in the country, composed primarily of music majors, along with a few students from other disciplines who take applied lessons.
