» Leonard Candelaria: Why I Chose Edwards

Leonard Candelaria is Professor of Trumpet and Artist in Residence at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. This appointment follows an illustrious 28-year career culminating in his attainment of the distinguished rank of Regents Professor of Music in the College of Music at the University of North Texas. Recognized nationally and internationally as a teacher and performer of distinction of both modern and historical instruments, he has performed as a virtuoso trumpet soloist in concerts and masterclasses in dozens of American cities and universities, as well as in Norway, Russia, Mexico, Taiwan, Sweden, Thailand, Switzerland, Hungary, Germany, Ukrainia, Lithuania and France. His trumpet artistry and musicianship have been highly lauded by international audiences and world-class musicians alike.

Leonard has participated in numerous performances and recordings with the Dallas Symphony, and has also performed with the Fort Worth Symphony, the Texas Baroque Ensemble, the Dallas Bach Society, the Orchestra of New Spain, the Texas Bach Collegium, the Texas Brass Ensemble, the Gothenburg Brass Band and the Summit Brass. His academic degrees were earned from the University of North Texas (BM cum laude, 1972 and MME, 1974) and Northwestern University (D.Mus. -Trumpet Performance, 1985). His teachers include Robert H. Fleming, John J. Haynie, Vincent Cichowicz, Luther Didrickson and Edward H. Tarr. While a student at the University of North Texas, Candelaria was a member of UNT's world famous One O'clock Lab Band.

Many of Candelaria's students occupy positions in symphony orchestras and pro- fessional bands throughout the world, including more than forty who teach in American colleges and universities. His students have performed with the big bands of Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, and Maynard Ferguson; major symphony orchestras such as the Baltimore Symphony, the St. Louis Symphony, the National Symphony, the Dallas Symphony; and numerous U.S. military service bands such as the U.S. Army Band, the U.S Army Field Band, U.S. Army Blues, the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors and the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note. Others have been prize winners and finalists in prestigious national and international competitions. In 1993, Leonard was awarded the Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award by the Faculty Senate of the University of North Texas. In August, 2001, his exemplary performing and teaching career was recognized by the University of North Texas and its Board of Regents by his being appointed to the prestigious rank, Regents Professor of Music.

Leonard was elected 1993-95 President of the International Trumpet Guild (ITG), a global association of trumpeters whose 7,100 members represent more than 60 countries around the world. During his presidency, he greatly expanded ITG's international scope of function through the establishment of frequent and lasting professional contact with trumpeters in Western and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Asia and Australia. In addition to having served as ITG President, he continues as a member of the ITG Board of Directors and as Chair of the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition. He has served ITG as host and organizer of the 1988 ITG Conference and ITG's 1997 Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Solo Competition, both of which were held at UNT. In November of 2004, he will host the Ellsworth Smith International Trumpet Solo Competition at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, an event co-sponsored by ITG and the Columbus Foundation.

Leonard has been a member of the jury and a guest artist for the 1995, 1997 and 2000 Moscow International Trumpet Festival and Competition; the 1996 Altenburg Competition in Bad Sackingen, Germany; the 1996 Vassily Brandt International Trumpet Festival Competition in Saratov, Russia; the 1998 International Trumpet Competition in Kiev, The Republic of the Ukraine; and the 2000 Festival Benjamin, in Marcali, Hungary. He has performed as a featured artist at the 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, and 1999 EURO-ITG Conferences; the 1994 Musicora in Paris, France; the 1995 International Brassfest; and the 1997 ITG Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden. In 2002 he served as a member of the distinguished jury that by special personal invitation of the legendary Russian trumpeter, Timothy Dokshizer, adjudicated the Timothy Dokshizer International Trumpet Competition, a part of the European Brass Forum held in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Candelaria has earned international recognition as one of America's distinguished artist/teachers. His extensive performing and teaching activities throughout the world have brought him in close professional and personal association with many of the world's greatest trumpet artists and pedagogues.