He began playing the trumpet in the fifth grade and now, 30 years later as a freelance trumpet player, David Turrill performs for audiences all around the country, including right here at Ohio State.
Turrill will be giving a concert at OSU Thursday, Jan. 28. The performance will cover a wide variety of trumpet literature, but one of the most important pieces he will be playing is the “Heightened Trumpet Concerto” by Joseph Haydn.
The piece is one of only two pieces from the classical period. The trumpet wasn’t a popular instrument during that time, so whenever a piece from this period is performed, Turrill says, “it’s kind of a big deal.”
His interest in the trumpet sparked after taking a musical aptitude test. His teachers told him that if he did well on the test he should consider joining the school band. Turrill did do well, and he realized it was something that he enjoyed and would continue to do, he said.
While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Turrill found himself performing professionally. His playing improved, because he would practice three to four times a day. These experiences helped Turrill decide that he would become a professional trumpet player.
Turrill performes on a freelance basis — meaning he plays in a specific area but with a lot of different groups. This gives him freedom a dedicated orchestra or band player would not have.
Currently, Turrill is pursuing his doctorate degree in musical arts at Michigan State University. When he is finished with his program, Turrill says he would like to obtain a teaching position at a college.
But for now, Turrill said that he is still learning from his predecessors.
“The professionals are always your inspiration and your role models,” Turrill said.
The first trumpet player that he was introduced to was Maurice André. André was one of the first to make it as a soloist. As time has passed, Turrill says his influences tend to be solo trumpet players and major orchestral players, but he is reminded that his inspiration came from his teachers when he was growing up.
Turrill is currently on a recital tour that will bring him to Ohio State and two other schools in Ohio.
He says some of the schools he performs at are schools where he has some connection with the faculty. A native of Marietta, Ohio, Turrill went to high school and college with Ohio State professor Timothy Leasure.
Turrill’s advice for up-and-coming musicians is, “Practice. Don’t give up. Set goals. If somebody wants to play professionally it’s a lot of work.”
He says more and more people are deciding to play professionally these days, which has lead to more people out looking for jobs. Turrill feels you can always assume somebody is out there practicing more than you are.
But he says the most important thing is not to give up and have perseverance.
His performance will begin at 8 p.m. Thursday in Weigel Auditorium. Tickets can be bought at the door. Student tickets are $6 with BuckID at the door.
