We just did this, for my trumpeter who’s starting college in 2 weeks. He too leaned Classical, but also loved playing jazz. Probably due to the pandemic killing most of his in-person music programs, he wound up deciding to double major with an academic field, with the likely goal of med school, instead of pro trumpet performer. But at the time he was starting the search, two years ago, he was leaning towards conservatory. He considered literally EVERY school in the country that offered a trumpet performance major, plus one school that didn’t.
First of all, does your son want to major only in trumpet, or does he want an academic major, too? Does he want conservatory, or a university/college that has a strong school of music? His GPA indicates that he’s a good student. And yes, he should apply test-optional, since that ACT is inconsistent with his academic achievement. Is the 4.3 out of a potential 5.0? 4.5? Approximately where does that 4.3 place him within his class? Top 10%? Top quarter? Top half? This will matter very much for competitive universities with good schools of music with great trumpet teachers, but not so much for some conservatories. Everywhere, his audition will be extremely important.
My son decided against conservatory, because he wanted to keep his academic options open. He wanted schools with strong academics (that ruled out places like North Texas and ASU, although ASU’s honors college was interesting, but I think he found out that one couldn’t do ASU music major and the honors college). He wanted schools where the music school was not on a separate campus from the main academic university. Most importantly, he wanted a great teacher - this was his most important consideration.
He wound up with this list: UConn (in-state safety, strong academics, and a Juilliard faculty teacher with a fantastic reputation, Louis Hanzlik). U Maryland - Chris Gekker. McGill - Richard Stoelzel. Boston University - Terry Everson. Harvard early action - no performance trumpet teacher, no music major, but my son already had music connections in Boston, and the conductor for the Harvard orchestra is great. If he got in, and decided to go, he was not going to try for NEC dual program because he wanted to focus on what Harvard had to offer him. He’d continue playing, probably continue studying, but he’d be leaning more toward medicine. If he didn’t get into Harvard early action, he would also apply to the dual programs of Columbia-Juilliard, and Yale College/Yale school of music. He wound up getting into Harvard early action and withdrawing his other applications, not applying to the rest.
He eliminated U Michigan because their classical teacher was ill, and the spot was being covered by several rotating trumpet teachers. He knew that one needs a consistent teacher putting you through his program for at least two years straight. If there is a stable luminary classical trumpet teacher at U Mich, it might be perfect for your son. UMich has strong academics, plus strong jazz and classical, and they have a reputation of going easier on the academic admission requirements for musicians with great auditions. Some schools he eliminated because he heard that the trumpet teacher was an SOB whom no one liked working with. He eliminated UT Austin because the teacher was stretched too thin, teaching and performing all over the country.
His friend studies happily with David Krauss at MSM, who also teaches at Mannes. Rice is a huge studio, and is incredibly competitive, but if his goal is playing with a major orchestra, the teachers at Rice (Butler and Geyer) are considered to be the best in the country, maybe the world, at preparing people to win symphony positions.
If your son wants a conservatory experience, there are so many places he should be considering, including Juilliard, which is tops in both classical and jazz trumpet.
And a shameless plug for the lovely warm Hartt school of music at U Hartford. My son says that Phil Snedecor was an absolutely fantastic teacher. U Hartford gives significant merit money for good students, and Phil Snedecor is doing great things with the trumpet studio there.
No way to chance your son without some idea of how good he is. All competitions for 2020 were cancelled. Did he try for any competitions this year? NYO or NYO2? Has he auditioned for and been accepted for any other competitive programs? Is he the top player in your regional or state wind ensemble? Does he attend and lead at a competitive precollege program? It’s all been so tough what with Covid cancelling so many programs, to get an idea of how one measures up to the competition.
He needs to get some feedback from his teacher and from any trumpet faculty in your area about how good he is, compared to other high school seniors. He also needs to seriously consider whether he is willing to essentially give up serious academics this early, and focus on trumpet. Some conservatories require/offer very little in the way of academics. Some require a comprehensive general academic studies curriculum (Juilliard), because they rightly believe that their graduates should be educated human beings, in addition to musicians. Some offer joint programs with nearby colleges/universities. Even Curtis I heard allows people to take two classes a semester at Penn, but my son heard that no one had the time to take advantage of this. In fact, that was what he heard from most of the people whom he knew at conservatories - that their time was taken up with practicing and ensembles, and that there really wasn’t time to take advantage of non-required academic classes.
There are music-specific threads on college confidential that you will find very helpful. Also, we got some good advice from the pros on TrumpetHerald.com. You’d be surprised at how many music faculty are on it. Ignore the nasty ■■■■■ Andy Del on it - most responders have been extremely helpful.
And then there is the question of money. Does he need financial aid? Merit money? Ohio State has a school of music with trumpet faculty - I imagine that would be his financial safety, with in-state tuition for him.
Feel free to send me a private message if you want me to ask my son specific questions, since he’s only 9 months out of the process, and his friend is studying trumpet at MSM (very happy there).