Palatine resident Stefan Filip places second in national trumpet competition
Stefan Filip, age 14, an eighth-grader at Winston Campus Junior High, Palatine, placed second in the Nation at the National Trumpet Competition at the University of Columbus, Columbus Georgia. This is the largest single instrument competition in the world. With participants from throughout the USA, Stefan initially participated in the preliminary round where he qualified. In January, he was selected as one of eight semi- finalist for the Junior Division (age 15 and younger) participating in live competition. In March, he was awarded Second Place following live competition. He is the son of Palatine residents Vio and Delia Filip.
"I focused on this competition as it is my dream to become a professional musician," said Stefan. "There were a large number of contestants. I was really thrilled to advance to the Nationals and then to win the second place award."
Stefan's artistry is often on display when he is playing trumpet or piano in churches as part of Logos Symphony Orchestra and Logos Brass Ensemble, in Niles.
Next on Stefan's schedule: he will compete in 2016 41st International Trumpet Guild Youth Competition that will take place in Anaheim, California, May 31- June 4 2016. He will play "Aria con Variazioni", by G.F. Handel and "Conversation for Cornet", by Clare Grundman.
Stefan is part of Winston Campus Band where he plays trumpet, and Winston Campus Jazz Band where he plays piano and trumpet.
"Since age 10, Stefan has been playing trumpet," said private trumpet teacher Eugen Goman. "He is extremely talented and dedicated and has the advantage of working with extremely talented instructors including Professor David Hickman from Arizona State University, Robert Sullivan from Northwestern University, Ronald Romm from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Dr. Chris Cigolea from Guelph, Ontario." Goman added, he has tremendous support from his school Band Directors, starting with Vanessa Jayne Thomsen, Linda Noegel Sullivan and Mario Mongello.
Stefan has been acknowledged in the open sessions of the District 15 board of directors, multiple times, for his outstanding musical and academic achievements.
His trumpet talent has been recognized by his annual selections to perform in the ILMEA District 7 Junior Honor Band for the last 2 years, and Illinois All State Junior Honor Band Concert, for the first time held this past January, which has been hosted by University of Illinois at Champaign and the concert was at Krannert Center for The Performing Arts.
In the past three years, he was awarded "Perfect Scores" at the IGSMA competitions for Trumpet Solo. His piano performances at IGSMA for the last 2 years have been awarded "Perfect Score" as well. He also received a Perfect Score in 6th grade for the trumpet/ clarinet Duet.
In spring of 2014, as a trumpet player, he auditioned and was admitted, to Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras, where he is playing with Debut Orchestra. With CYSO, he performed in their concerts to the general public at Harris Theater and Studebaker Theater in Chicago, and Northwestern University Pick-Staiger Hall, plus in their annual Concert for Chicago Public Schools, held at Chicago Cultural Center.
In 2015, he participated and performed at the International Trumpet Guild Conference, Columbus, Ohio, where he had the opportunity to meet Professor David Hickman from Arizona State University. Through this encounter, Stefan was introduced to Rafael Mendez Brass Institute Camp that is held at Lamont School of Music at University of Denver, Denver Colorado. Stefan was part of Stellar Brass Quintet I, had trumpet lessons with David Hickman and Ronald Romm, piano lesson with Dr. Miriam Hickman, conducting lesson with Dr. Joseph Martin, he attended seminaries and was part of audience in the evening concerts presented by Summit Brass, Denver Municipal Band, Denver Brass, Stellar Brass and Faculty soloists. He received great encouragement and warm support from a range of aspiring and professional brass players who attended the camp.