Spencer Brand
McNeese
Trumpet Studio
Welcome to the Studio!
The Trumpet Studio at McNeese State University is a welcoming and diverse community of students pursuing degrees in Music Education, Music Performance, and Music Production. Students come from across Southwest Louisiana and East Texas and are encouraged to take advantage of the many performance opportunities available at McNeese, including The Pride of McNeese, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Trumpet Ensemble, Brass Choir, and a variety of chamber ensembles. Studio members are also active throughout the Lake Charles community, performing in churches, jazz venues, and other community settings.
McNeese trumpet students have represented the studio on regional, national, and international stages. Students have received International Trumpet Guild Conference Scholarships, competed in the National Trumpet Competition, attended the University of Kentucky Trumpet Workshop and the Rafael Méndez Brass Institute, and served as camp counselors at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Several students have also performed with leading drum corps, including the Blue Devils, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, and Blue Stars. Most recently, Mario Sanchez (BM Music Performance '26) was selected as the winner of the 2025–26 McNeese Concerto and Aria Competition and performed André Jolivet's virtuosic Concerto No. 2 with the McNeese Symphonic Band.
An important part of the studio experience is connecting students with professional musicians and educators from across the country. Over the past several years, the trumpet studio has hosted dozens of guest artists and distinguished teachers, including:
Scott Moore — Memphis Symphony
Robert Dorer — Minnesota Orchestra
David Hickman — Arizona State University, Emeritus
Dr. Brianne Borden — University of Delaware
Dr. Sarah Stoneback — Montana State University
Dr. Peter Wood — University of South Alabama
Dr. Ross Ahlhorn — Louisiana State University
The Philadelphia Big Brass
The U.S. Army Brass Quintet
These are just a few of the many artists and educators with whom McNeese trumpet students have had the opportunity to study, perform, and interact. Bringing professional musicians into the studio provides students with valuable perspectives on performance, teaching, and the many career paths available to musicians.
The success of the studio ultimately extends beyond the university. McNeese trumpet graduates have gone on to earn competitive scholarships to leading trumpet studios and secure teaching positions in Calcasieu Parish and throughout East Texas. I believe there is a place for every student in the trumpet studio, and my goal is to help each student develop the skills, confidence, and musicianship necessary to pursue the career they envision—whether that means performing professionally, educating the next generation of musicians, or working in music production and concert production.
My Teaching Philosophy
I believe every teaching environment should be safe, supportive, and centered on the individual needs of each student. Whether in the classroom or the teaching studio, I strive to build positive relationships, recognize each student's strengths, and establish goals collaboratively. When students understand their strengths and take an active role in setting their goals, they become more invested in their own development and more motivated to become independent musicians.
My goals as a teacher are to:
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Make trumpet playing as efficient and effortless as possible.
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Develop positive, confident, and motivated individuals.
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Give students the tools they need to identify and achieve their personal and professional aspirations.
Every student brings a unique set of skills, experiences, and musical instincts to the trumpet, as well as a unique sound and artistic voice. My role as a teacher is not to impose a single model of what a musician should be, but to help each student develop their individual strengths while building the technical and musical skills necessary for confident, independent performance.
I accomplish this through an intentional, objective, and student-centered approach to teaching. I provide students with practical tools and strategies that they can use to address challenges, evaluate their own progress, and continue developing independently. I believe that helping students recognize and build upon their strengths is central to effective pedagogy and is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work as a teacher.
Ultimately, I want my students to leave the studio with more than improved trumpet skills. I want them to become thoughtful, confident, and self-motivated musicians who possess the tools to continue learning throughout their careers. I also strive to create resources that students can carry into their own teaching, allowing the work we do together to influence and support the next generation of musicians.
If you are interested in private lessons, please feel free to reach out about in-person or virtual instruction. Prospective students interested in collegiate study at McNeese State University can find additional information through the following websites:
W.A. and Dorothy Hanna Department of Performing Arts
https://www.mcneese.edu/performingarts/
McNeese Bands
https://www.mcneesebands.com/
