Crane Student's Trumpet CD Released by Madstop Records

POTSDAM, NY (05/11/2012)(readMedia)-- A Crane School of Music graduate student is set to release her first solo trumpet album with the College's student-run Madstop Records. Becki Ronen Walenz, the former Miss Kansas 2009 and a current master's student at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music will release "Concoction: Popular Solos for Student Trumpet Players" on June 1.

Walenz is working toward her Master of Music degree in trumpet performance, and recently recorded the album with Madstop Records, with assistance from the Crane Institute for Music Business.

"Concoction" is compiled of 14 pieces of music that common grade school, middle school and high school age trumpet players prepare. None of the music on the CD is easily accessible on YouTube or iTunes. Walenz hopes the CD will be a learning tool and listening reference that teachers and budding trumpet students across the country can utilize to strengthen their understanding of the trumpet and the music that is written for it.

In June 2009, Walenz won the title of Miss Kansas and took the year off from her studies at Kansas State University to travel across the state of Kansas, serving as the spokesperson for the Miss Kansas Organization and the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals of Kansas. Her personal platform was the importance of arts education.

While serving as Miss Kansas, Becki traveled 40,000 miles across Kansas, visited six other states and made 250 appearances, reaching more than 75,000 Kansans. She made her solo debut with the Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra, playing the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, which led to 20 other solo performances across the state. After her year as Miss Kansas came to a close, Walenz continued to be an active supporter of arts education.

"I am thrilled that the release of this CD will be able to help young trumpet players continue their music education and provide a listening guide for possible music they may prepare in the future," she said.

Her past and current trumpet teachers include Dr. Gary Mortenson and Dr. John Ellis. For more information, please contact Becki directly at walenzrj195@potsdam.edu.

To learn more about the Crane Institute for Music Business, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/crane/musicbusiness.

Founded in 1886, SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music has a long legacy of excellence in music education and performance. Life at Crane includes an incredible array of more than 300 recitals, lectures and concerts presented by faculty, students and guests each year. The Crane School of Music is the State University of New York's only All-Steinway institution, and is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2011-12.

-www.potsdam.edu/crane-

Posted Friday May 11, 2012 at 01:30 pm by SUNY Potsdam
Last Updated Monday May 14, 2012 at 11:49 am