Get ready for an electrifying day of trumpet excellence! Higher • Faster • Louder Trumpet Day brings together top-tier artists, educators, and industry experts for a full day of music-making, education, and inspiration.
Whether you’re a student, professional, educator, or enthusiast, this is your chance to dive deep into the world of trumpet performance with:
🎓 All-State Etude Masterclass led by Principal Trumpet of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Kyle Sherman.
🎶 Live Performances showcasing a range of styles and techniques from our guest artists.
🧠 Presentations & Discussions covering concepts in trumpet playing, maintenance & equipment, and preparation tips for college auditions, competitions, and festivals.
🎤 Roundtable Q&A where YOU can ask questions and gain insights from some of the best in the business.
🎺 Instrument Petting Zoo – explore and test a wide selection of trumpets from Yamaha, Bach, S.E. Shires & more, along with mouthpieces and accessories, all with expert guidance.
🥪 Grab a Bite – catered lunch provided with registration.
👕 T-Shirt – receive a premium cotton ‘Higher Faster Louder’ tee with registration.
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Reserve your spot today–scroll down to register! Space is limited and this is an event you won’t want to miss…..
Media Consent: By registering for this event, you agree to allow Houghton Horns to use any photos, videos, or other media taken during the event for promotional purposes.
Praised by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for his “gorgeous and moving solo work,” Kyle Sherman joined the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra as Principal Trumpet in 2016. Originally from La Grange, Texas, Mr. Sherman is an alumnus of the Yale School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Tanglewood Music Center, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the Round Top Festival. Kyle has appeared with the Dallas Symphony, and as a soloist with the Garland, Arlington, and Las Colinas symphony orchestras. He has also performed on the Broadway national tours of the Book of Mormon, Porgy & Bess, and Matilda, among others.
An active and dedicated educator, he regularly appears as a clinician and recitalist at universities throughout Texas and the United States. His current and former students can be found in the Dallas and Fort Worth Youth Symphonies, as well as college music schools throughout the country.
Kyle Sherman is a Yamaha performing artist.
Dr. Brian Walker is currently the Associate Professor of Trumpet at the University of
North Texas. Prior to his appointment at UNT, Brian Walker was Professor of Trumpet at
Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas for twelve years. As a teacher, his
students have been accepted into many undergraduate and graduate music programs and
currently perform in orchestras and premier military groups throughout the United States.
His students are frequently featured at the National Trumpet Competition and
International Trumpet Guild Conferences as competitors, presenters, and performers.
As a performer, he has appeared with various orchestral groups in the DFW region and is
currently Second Trumpet with the Richardson Symphony Orchestra. As a commercial
musician, Dr. Walker has played for various Broadway and Musical Theater
organizations in Dallas and Fort Worth. As a soloist, Dr. Walker has given recitals
throughout the United States and in Greece, France, China and Brazil. He was featured
soloist on the Tarleton State Wind Ensemble’s performance at Carnegie Hall in 2014 and
this ensemble’s performance at the Texas Music Education Association Conference in
2022.
Brian is active in the International Trumpet Guild where he serves on the Board of
Directors, on the Recording Projects Committee, Chairs the Conference Golf Scramble
Scholarship Fundraiser Committee and Chairs the Financial Investments Committee. Dr.
Walker also serves as an adjudicator for the National Trumpet Competition and ITG
Competitions and is often sought as a pedagogue for masterclasses throughout the United
States.
Dr. Walker holds degrees from the University of North Texas (DMA), The Florida State
University (MM) and Southeastern Oklahoma State University (BM) where he studied
with Michael Miles, Christopher Moore, and John Holt, respectively.
He is a Yamaha Performing Artist and plays exclusively on Yamaha trumpets.
Cody McClarty was appointed to the Assistant Principal Trumpet position of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in May 2018. Prior to this, he served two years as Principal Trumpet for the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Garland Symphony Orchestra, and the Arlington Symphony Orchestra. Mr. McClarty has also performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Symphony, Houston Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Santa Fe Symphony, Tulsa Symphony, and the Breckenridge Music Festival. In the summer of 2014, he was a member of the National Repertory Orchestra. Mr. McClarty joined the Music in the Mountains festival orchestra in the summer of 2019, in Durango, Colorado. He has also been offered positions with the Air Force Academy Band, the Navy Band, as well as a one-year position with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. McClarty is a native of Fort Worth, Texas and began trumpet studies under his older brother, James McClarty. Cody earned his BM in Trumpet Performance from Southern Methodist University, under the tutelage of Tom Booth. While at SMU, he also studied with Ryan Anthony, and Kevin Finamore. Other notable teachers include Tom Cupples, and Wiff Rudd.
Cody is a Shires Trumpet Artist.
McKenna Hill is a doctoral candidate in Trumpet Performance and Pedagogy at the University of North Texas (UNT). Her research and performance interests include trumpet pedagogy, chamber music, historical performance practice, and interdisciplinary arts. During her doctoral studies, Hill held a Teaching Assistantship as a member of the Center for Chamber Music Studies Brass Quintet and a Teaching Fellowship for the trumpet department, where she contributed to both applied instruction and ensemble coaching.
Hill currently maintains an active performance schedule in the Dallas–Fort Worth region, including engagements with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Richardson Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas Winds, the Lone Star Wind Orchestra, and serves as the fourth/utility trumpet with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Hill has appeared in renowned ensembles across the United States, such as the Round Top Festival Institute Orchestra, the Colorado MahlerFest Orchestra, the Miami Music Festival Orchestra, the American Baroque Opera Company, and Harmonia Stellarum.
Hill earned her Master of Music at UNT in Trumpet Performance with a specialization in Early Music and holds a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance from Texas A&M University–Commerce (now ETAMU). As a proud alumna of East Texas A&M University, Hill is thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to the department that initially fostered her growth as an artist and educator. Go Lions!
Wayne Tanabe is the senior technical manager for Yamaha Artist Services in New York City. He has been associated with brass instrument repair for the past 39 years, and founded The Brass Bow repair shop in 1983. With his former company Chicago Brass Works, he has also built a line of custom handmade trumpets. Widely recognized for his pioneering work in the field of brass instrument repair, Wayne has developed and refined the use of cryogenics, ultrasonic cleaning and magnetic dent removal, and has served as a consultant for instrument design and development of components for various manufacturers.
