Girls Play Trumpets Too Hosts Debut Performance Showcasing Work and Talents of 15 Young Participants

Program introduces young women to the trumpet to enhance representation in a male-dominated part of the music industry

The first cohort of participants in the Girls Play Trumpet Too program will celebrate months of work with a debut performance at Cafe Istanbul on Saturday, May 20 at 3:00 p.m. The nonprofit, started by musician and music educator Troy Sawyer, aims to empower girls ages 8-19 to play the trumpet on a novice and advanced level. The ultimate goal of the program is to produce more professional female trumpeters who will have the tools they need to succeed in a male-dominated field. The young ladies will perform several selections with Special Guest trumpeter Emily Mikesell for their family members, donors, staff, partners and friends. They will also share personal stories about their experience in the program thus far.

Since November, Sawyer, his assistant and the 15 students have met at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church every Saturday morning for 90 minutes. The curriculum begins with reading music and listening to notable female trumpet players. Sawyer emphasizes how important it is for his students to see women playing trumpet at a high level. When he was coming up, he did not see the same kind of representation, and he believes the lack of representation could be causing other music educators to steer girls away from the trumpet.