2008 Summer Brass Institute Trumpet Staff

Mr. Nathaniel Mayfield, Executive Director

A Texas native with international roots, Nathaniel Mayfield received his education at The Juilliard School, Columbia University, Interlochen Arts Academy, Tanglewood Institute, and the Hochschule für Musik in Karlsruhe, Germany. After a nomination for "exceptional artistic achievement" by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts (NFAA), and "for holding to the very highest of academic standards" by the U.S. Department of Education under Secretary Richard Riley, Nathaniel was selected by President Clinton's White House Commission on Presidential Scholars to receive the Presidential Scholar Medallion in 1994. This award is presented to 20 artists each year in recognition of "demonstrated leadership ability, strong character and commitment to high ideals."

Upon graduating from a joint program between Columbia University and The Juilliard School (student of Raymond Mase, Chairman of Brass Department), Nathaniel was chosen as a J. William Fulbright scholar to pursue post-graduate work on trumpet performance with Professor Reinhold Friedrich in Karlsruhe, Germany. Committed to the program's long-term mission of building cooperation between the two countries, Nathaniel continues work as a trumpet artist/representative for Thein-Instruments in Bremen. While in Europe he was inspired to learn the rediscovered baroque trumpet, and now enjoys an active schedule of touring, recording and lecturing with Grammy-nominated baroque trumpeter Niklas Eklund from Sweden.

Nathaniel has won numerous musical competitions, including the International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition, the National Trumpet Competition, the Aspen Festival Brass Concerto Competition, and the Yamaha Young Artist Competition. His orchestral experience includes participation as a fellow with the National Repertory Orchestra, the Pacific Music Festival Japan, and the Round Top Institute, as well as concerts with the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra, Mannheim National Theatre, Singapore Symphony, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and Victoria Bach Festival.

After returning to Texas from abroad, Nathaniel was appointed Director of Music for The Austin School for the Performing and Visual Arts (ASPVA), and also Executive Director for the Austin Brass Center, both 501-C3 non-profit organizations. While not traveling, Nathaniel calls his native city of Austin home, where he lives with his wife, Ulrike. He can be contacted anytime through his website, www.natemayfield.com.

To see concert clips of Mr. Mayfield's performances, please visit http://youtube.com/user/natemayfield

Mr. Adrian Griffin, Co-Director of Operations and Education

Mr. Adrian Griffin is the Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

A native of the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area, Adrian Griffin grew up in a musical family, his father being a trumpeter and his mother a flutist. Surrounded by jazz and classical music, it was when Adrian started seventh grade that he discovered his passion for the trumpet. Through the guidance of his parents and his strong motivation, he soon realized that he was destined to pursue music as his life and career.

Adrian currently holds three advanced degrees in music education and trumpet performance. He completed his undergraduate studies at Northern Kentucky University under the tutelage of Jon Gresham, where he graduated with a B.M.E. in music education and B.M. in trumpet performance. While pursuing his bachelor degree he won the third trumpet position with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, where he was the youngest member of the brass section. He held that position for five seasons under the direction of Maestro J.R. Cassidy.

Upon graduation in 1998, Adrian entered the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music (CCM) to pursue a Masters in trumpet performance. He continued playing with the Kentucky Symphony and won the second trumpet position with the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra in Toluca, Mexico in 1999. He declined the position in order to continue his studies with Marie Speziale, the first woman trumpeter to ever play in a major symphony orchestra. Adrian deepened musically and personally under her dynamic influence. During his tenure at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Adrian was able to play and record under some of the greatest conductors and musicians throughout the world, including the Moscow Radio Philharmonic during its United States tour. Adrian has also been a finalist and winner in many regional, international and national music competitions.

Upon graduation from Cincinnati, Adrian attended the University of Illinois School of Music under the direction of trumpeter Ray Sasaki to work on a Doctorate in Trumpet Performance. Within the first four months of his studies with Ray Sasaki, Adrian became the first trumpeter in several years to win concerto competition sponsored by the University of Illinois music school, and released his first, self-titled solo recording on the B&K label.

Upon completing his D.M.A. coursework, he was asked to perform the Eb solo cornet book with the touring Jack Daniel’s Brass Band. He has performed with the late Ray Charles, as well as some of this nation’s greatest musicians. In 2004 Adrian accepted the fourth trumpet position with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, where he continues to perform.  He is also currently in the process of recording his second solo CD.  As of 2006, Adrian accepted the offer to be an Artist/Clinician for the Conn/Selmer Corporation.  Adrian performs exclusively on Bach Stradivarius Trumpets.  In addition, Adrian serves as the artist/clinician and representative for DANSR inc. /Denis Wick mutes and accessories.

As a trumpet teacher in Austin and San Antonio, TX and with a trumpet studio of fifty students, Adrian continue to pass to his students his own experiences and love for music as well as the traditions of his prior teachers as well as starting a new tradition as Lecturer of Trumpet at University of Texas at San Antonio. His students have achieved recognition through state and regional solo performance and UIL competitions, as well as attending top universities around the nation to study music.   He is sought as a clinician for trumpet students regionally and nationally. In addition to teaching, Adrian enjoys an active solo and orchestral career, and looks forward to sharing his musical expertise with musicians and audiences worldwide through his teaching and performance.

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