The first stop for Ulrich will be St. Petersburg, Russia, where he will perform at the International Romantic Trumpet Festival’s gala concert. The concert also will feature Paul Merkelo, principal trumpet of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, and Gennady Nikonov, principal trumpet of the Marinsky Theatre Orchestra in Russia.

Following the performance, Ulrich (shown at right) will travel to the Moscow Conservatory, where he will hold a trumpet clinic and appear in a recital with Vladislav Lavrik, principal trumpet of the Russian National Orchestra.

“To be invited to perform and teach at the Moscow Conservatory is one of the greatest honors I have ever received,” said Ulrich. “I will be performing some of my favorite American trumpet pieces in the recital program with my Russian trumpet-player friend, Vlad Lavrick, and I am looking forward to hearing and teaching some of Russia’s finest trumpet students.”

The trip will be Ulrich’s second travel experience in Russia. He and other members of WCU’s Smoky Mountain Brass Quintet were invited to perform at the festival in St. Petersburg in 2005.

“I am very excited to be going back to Russia to perform with several of my close friends,” said Ulrich, a WCU faculty member since 1989. “Experiences such as this enable me to stay current in my field and also bring amazing information back for my students at WCU.”

For more information about WCU’s School of Music, call (828) 227-7242.

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Last modified: Monday, Aug. 25, 2008