What’s New?

New CD, “Rebelión” Now Available!

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:14:48 -0400

See and hear my new 4-Valve horn, "TANTRA" by Monette!

Tue, 25 May 2010 14:49:18 -0400

This new horn, TANTRA, is a radical step forward; a one-of-a-kind, 4-valve (Bb) horn which can be played several octaves below the range of traditional trumpets.

(From the Monette website)

“Adam Rapa started asking us about a four valve instrument last year. He was looking for an instrument with an extended low register and a new sound that offered more power and a wider variety of colors than even his regular, custom PRANA 3 Bb.... Bingo!... We got it!!!”

Click here for video of my first performance!

New CD, "One of Our Own" Released!

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:18:23 -0400

Last summer, a great friend of mine from the cast of “Blast!”, Mike Welch, suffered a terrible bicycle accident, shattering two vertebrae and leaving him paralyzed below the chest.

In order to raise the money for Mike’s treatment, some past and present members of the cast of “Blast!” have created a compilation CD entitled “One of Our Own”.

The album is available for download on iTunes.
I have two songs on the album and took part in producing it.

PLEASE support our efforts to help our dear friend buy purchasing the album now, and please spread the word far and wide among your friends, family, co-workers, students.... everyone. It’s a wonderful album and a wonderful cause.

Thank you.

2009 National Trumpet Competition - BIG NEWS!!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:21:32 -0400

Natalie Dungey is an incredibly gifted young trumpet player (only 10 years old!) who I’ve had the honor and great pleasure of mentoring for a year now. She was already phenominal for her age when we met, so I can’t too much credit. Her dad is also a trumpet player and her mom is a violinist and pianist, and she couldn’t have asked for a better environment.

But ultimately, as with any artist, Natalie is the one putting in the time, waking up early to practice for an hour before school, and doing everything it takes to become truly great. The credit goes to her.

The big news is that Natalie just won the 2009 National Trumpet Competition - Junior Division! The cutoff for this division is the 8th grade, which means Natalie was competing with players up to 5 years older!!

I’ve never heard anyone play like her at such a young age - ever. There’s musicality and wisdom well beyond her years that is simply mind-blowing. Remember the name: Natalie Dungey. Well, if you don’t, that’s OK too. It’ll be everywhere before too long...

Congratulations are also in order for another great young trumpet player, 14 year old Robin Seitz, who won second place in the same competition. He’s another very hard working and dedicated player. It’s really inspiring to have such awesome young players like Robin and Natalie in my life.

Since Robin lives near Portland, Oregon, we’ve been connecting online via iBrass lessons instead of meeting in person. I’ve really enjoyed working with him and I’m looking forward to following his success in the years to come.

Congratulations guys!!

Going to be in Dallas on April 5th?....

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 01:50:13 -0400

If so, there’s a show happening that you don’t want to miss!

In the 1970’s, Floyd Werle wrote four concertos for Doc Severinsen which blurred the line between Classical and Jazz, but only three of them were ever performed. Concerto #4 was thought to have been lost in a band room fire before it was ever performed. Thanks to literally years of sleuth work on the part of Randol Alan Bass, conductor for the Metropolitan Winds in Dallas, (and a wonderful composer as well) a score was recently unearthed. Randy spent about three weeks copying the chicken-scratch score into his computer, and has essentially resurrected this piece from the dead.

In 2004, I had the pleasure (and the daunting task) of performing the Werle Concerto #2 with the Metropolitan Winds and several other groups since. Playing that piece was a challenge that required taking my playing to a much higher level. You can hear clips of that piece on the Audio/Video page.

Now, Randy and I are both ecstatic to offer the world premier
of a concerto 30+ years in the waiting!

We’ll also perform other pieces for wind symphony and rhythm section, including an adaptation of the “Requiem (for Bill Chase)” based on “Agnus Dei” by Gabriel Fauré , which I debuted (minus the wind symphony) at ITG ’08,
and also the ever-exciting crowd pleaser, “FRIGHT of the Bumblebee!”.

If you’re anywhere near Dallas on April 5th, don’t miss this concert!

See you there. Time for me to go practice that Concerto #4.....