American trumpet virtuoso Paul Neebe has performed widely throughout the U. S. and Europe as both an acclaimed soloist and respected orchestral musician. Recognized for his beautiful solo sound and artistic flair, Dr. Neebe has also been praised for his commitment to commissioning and recording contemorary American works for the trumpet. In 2000, he commissioned the American composer Roger Petrich to write a piece for trumpet and organ, a work premiered in Germany in 2002 and recorded on the German label MDG in 2003. His 2006 recording with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, American Trumpet Concertos, features world premieres of American trumpet concertos commissioned by Dr. Neebe from composers Carl Roskott, Edward Green, Robert J. Bradshaw and Frederick C. Tillis. Dr. Neebe recently commissioned several new American works for trumpet and orchestra by Dr. Walter Ross, Professor Emeritus of the University of Virginia, Dr. Eddie Bass, Professor Emeritus of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, as well as Roger Petrich, Organist of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Chapel Hill.

Dr. Neebe currently is Principal Trumpet of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra, and the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra in Virginia. Dr. Neebe serves on the faculty of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. In recent seasons, he has performed as a featured soloist with the symphony orchestras in Charlottesville and Roanoke in Virginia, the Durham (N. C.) Symphony Orchestra, the Wintergreen Festival Orchestra, and the Elon (N. C.) University Wind Ensemble He received honors at the first Moscow International Trumpet Competition. In addition to appearing in numerous concerts throughout the United States, he has performed several times in the Goethe Institute cultural program in Rothenburg, Germany, and has toured with orchestras in Italy, Austria, Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Neebe received both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School. While at Juilliard, he was a member of the National Orchestra of New York, performing at Carnegie Hall. He completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at The Catholic University of America. His teachers have included Bernard Adelstein, Barbara Butler, Steve Hendrickson, Arnold Jacobs, Douglas Myers, Vincent Penzarella and William Vacchiano. For further information, please visit his web site, www.PaulNeebe.com.

Jonathan Schakel is a native of Holland, Michigan, where he graduated from Hope College with degrees in history and music. He earned a master’s degree with distinction in organ from the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he studied organ, harpsichord and clavicord with Peter Sykes and continuo with Frances Conover Fitch. His early training in piano was under the guidance of Thomas Gouwens, aand his other organ other teachers include James David Christie and Peter Kranefoed. In addition, he has pursued further studies with Olivier Latry, William Porter, Lorenzo Ghielmi, Luigi Ferndiando Tagliavini and James Higdon. He has also studied at the organ academies of McGill University and Haarlem, Netherlands. He has given recitals on organ and harpsichord throughout the United States and in Germany, frequently performng with his wife, soprano Megan Sharp. He and Megan together direct the music program at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville.

  The concert is free and open to the public. Ample parking is available behind the church, and the sanctuary is wheelchair–accessible. A reception for the artist will follow the concert. For more information, please call (434)963-4690 or visit www.avenue.org/organconcerts. To receive e–mail notices from this Series, click here: