FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE TRUMPET ENSEMBLE SELECTED TO PERFORM AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK The Drake University Trumpet Ensemble, conducted by Andrew Classen, has been invited to perform at the 2000 International Trumpet Guild Conference May 24-27 at the State University of New York in Purchase, N.Y. Drake's ensemble was selected through the judging of audition tapes submitted by college trumpet ensembles from around the world, said Classen, associate professor of trumpet and director of jazz studies at Drake. The Drake Trumpet Ensemble will perform at the conference along with ensembles from Australia and France as well as New York, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The performances will consist of 15-minute preludes for major concerts at the conference. The International Trumpet Guild Conference is held once a year in various locations. Previous sites for the conference have included Gottenburg, Sweden, and Rotterdam, Holland. The Drake ensemble is made up of eight students: Jackie Bechtold, a junior English major from St. Cloud, Minn.; Lucas Kraut, a freshman music business major from Winnebago, Ill.; Adam Kreis, a freshman music major from Batavia, Ill.; Bob Palmer, a senior trumpet major from Norwalk, Iowa; Bryan Parsons, a freshman music performance major from Alleman, Iowa; Marc Reed, a junior music education major from Ankeny, Iowa; Melanie Spies, a freshman music education major from Manilla, Iowa; and Chris Strohmaier, a senior music performance major from Urbandale, Iowa.