Hartt 2024-25 Trumpet Students
Graduate Students:
Undergraduate Students:
Zachary Stowe-Alekman is a trumpeter and composer from Massachusetts, based out of Hartford, Connecticut. He is currently pursuing a dual degree in music composition and trumpet performance at the Hartt School of Music, for which he studies with Gilda Lyons and Phil Snedecor. As a trumpet player, Zach has attended the Atlantic Brass Quintet Seminar, as well as the Mostly Modern Festival under conductors including David Amado and JoAnn Falleta. More recently, Zach and his brass quintet, the Tavern Brass, attended the American Brass Quintet Seminar at the Aspen Music Festival, where they premiered his Brass Quintet No. 1, “Black Paintings”. In addition to performing in the Hartt School’s ensembles, Zach has performed with the Waterbury Symphony. He also has performed in masterclasses from Chris Coletti, Caleb Hudson, and Brandon Ridenour, among others. As a composer, Zach aims to write accessible and interesting music that tells a story, with a strong interest in the contemporary brass quintet repertoire. Currently, he has an upcoming premier for the 2025 season with Hartt's Foot in the Door ensemble. Outside of music, Zach is an avid home cook who enjoys making elaborate meals for his roommates in the hopes that they will clean up the mess.
Noah Bissell is a senior trumpet performance major from Salisbury, Massachusetts. He has been studying trumpet for about 10 years. He has been first chair in the
Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestra and the Northeast District Band as well as participating in the John Philip Sousa National Honor Band. He won many awards including the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and the John Philip Sousa Band Award.
Michael Widjaja is a senor music education major from Sioux City, Iowa. He has played in many summer festivals, including National Music Festival in Chestertown, MD, the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA) in British Columbia, Credo National Festival at in Chicago, and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. He became an inaugural member of the National Youth Wind Ensemble in Washington, D.C. He was also a quarterfinalist in the high school solo division of the 2022 National Trumpet Competition in Newark, Delaware. A proud recipient of a trumpet position in the 2021 NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra, Michael was one of only six students selected nationwide, becoming the first Iowan wind player to hold this distinction.
During his undergraduate studies, Michael served as President of Hartt's National Association for Music Education Collegiate Chapter (NAfME) and as Collegiate Student Chair for the Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA). Michael holds a strong love and passion for orchestral music and will be pursuing a master’s degree in conducting. When not surrounded by music, he loves being surrounded by the second-best thing: nature. He enjoys exploring walkable and transit-friendly cities, running outside, cooking a mean and hearty Vietnamese pho, and spending time with his family.
Henry Shifrin is a junior trumpet performance major, currently playing in symphony band, wind ensemble, and big band. He has also played at Litchfield jazz camp and the Atlantic Brass Quintet summer seminar. In high school, he played in marching band, concert band, pit orchestra, jazz band, and Norwalk Youth Symphony. He was also split lead and soloist in the CMEA All-State & Western Region big band during junior year and senior year, and he studied jazz improvisation with saxophonist David DeJesus.
For fun he enjoys playing duets and jam sessions with his friends, going on hikes, and playing guitar.
Marie Plouffe Marie Plouffe is a trumpet player and teacher from Burrillville, RI. She graduated from Ithaca College in 2023, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. While at Ithaca College, Marie studied with former Canadian Brass member Christopher Coletti. She is currently working towards her Master's Degree in Trumpet Performance at The Hartt School where she studies with Phil Snedecor.
Marie has performed with the Hartford Chorale, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, and Opera Ithaca, and was a semi-finalist at the National Trumpet Competition with the Ithaca College Trumpet Ensemble. She also has experience performing in musical theater pit orchestras, brass quintets, conferences, weddings, and contemporary ensembles. She taught trumpet and voice lessons at the Community School of Music and Arts in Ithaca, NY to students ranging in age from 8 to 63, and currently teaches lesson at Middlesex Music Academy in Middletown, CT.
Holly Dion is a second year Master's student from Somerset, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from Rhode Island College, under the tutelage of Joseph Foley. They are currently a Masters of Music in trumpet performance, learning under Dan D’Addio and Phil Snedecor. They currently enjoy performing at church masses for liturgical holidays, as well as in orchestral pits for various musical productions.
When not playing music, she can be found reading a good book or hanging out with her cat, Beau.
John Lyons is a sophomore music education major from upstate New York. He has been playing the trumpet since the third grade, and it didn’t take long for him to fall in love with it. Before coming to The Hartt School, John studied with Wayne Castle, a retired member of the Air Force Band of the East, as well as the 42nd Infantry Division Band. In high school, he played in a number of ensembles, including Concert Band, Big Band, Pit Orchestra, and Pep Band. At his senior concert, he was awarded with the John Phillip Sousa Band Award. After high school, John attended a different college for a year, before quickly realizing that music was his calling, and ending up at Hartt, where he couldn’t be happier!
Alex Finn is a sophomore Music Education major from South Yarmouth Massachusetts. He studied with Kyle Spraker for 2 years before coming to Hartt. He enjoys playing guitar and bass. Other hobbies of his include playing baseball and going to concerts.
Dylan Raffaele is a junior acoustical engineering and music student from Poughkeepsie, New York. In between engineering classes he is able to play trumpet with Hartt’s Symphony Winds. He hopes to use his degree in the near future to be able to design many different concert halls all across the world.
Jack Rockwell is sophomore music education major from Rhode Island. In High School, Rockwell was a completer of The Audio Production Technology Pathway and The Music Performance Pathway, earning a spot in The National Technical Honor Society for his efforts in music and ProTools expertise, along with the John Philip Sousa Award. In his Junior Year, Rockwell was fifth chair in the RIMEA All-State Concert Band, and in his senior year, was first chair in the same ensemble. Rockwell is also the conductor and composer of "Glory in Green," a baroque inspired piece played for his Senior Passion Project in February 2024.
Jack enjoys listening to jazz and serving as the Events Coordinator for the newly reinstated Hartford Hawks Pep Band!
Peter Fiegel is a junior music education major from Richmond Massachusetts. Prior to his studies at the Hartt School Peter studied with Paul Sundberg (the former principal trumpet of the Berkshire Symphony Orchestra and adjunct professor of trumpet at Williams College). Peter is the former principal trumpet of the Southern Vermont Sinfonia (2017-2019) and has received the John Philip Sousa Band Award. In addition to his studies at the Hartt School with Phil Snedecor, Peter currently plays principal trumpet in the Stockbridge Sinfonia.
Matthew Chietro is an Acoustics major from New York. In his Senior Year he was first chair in Nyssma Area Allstate and an Alternate in Nyssma Conference Allstate. He is also a former member of the Arlington Marching Band winning state championships in 2024. He was awarded the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award along with the Leonard Bernstein Musicianship Award.
Mike DeLayo is a first year student from Warren, Connecticut. He is a trumpet performance/music education double major who has been playing since fourth grade. He participated in the Connecticut Youth Symphony for the Hartt Community Division as well as both CMEA Northern Regionals & All-State Music Festivals in 2023, 2024 and 2025. In addition, he was a member of the 2025 All-Eastern Honors Band.
Throughout high school, Mike performed in his High School Honors Band, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Pep Band. He studied with Maurice Steinberg for 4 years before attending UHART. Mike's hobbies involve running, playing guitar, composing rock music, and gardening.
Rick Shaw has over 50 years of professional playing experience through diverse venues including symphony orchestras, opera, jazz, blues, rock, brass quintet, church, and weddings from New England to
West Palm Beach, FL., as well as 18 years in the Army Band of New England. Rick recently relocated back to his home state of CT to pursue an Artist Diploma at Hartt School of Music with Professor Phil Snedecor. Rick holds a Masters of Trumpet Performance from the University of Mississippi and a Bachelors of Trumpet Performance from Florida Atlantic University. His former teachers include Roger
Murtha, Mark Reese, Elmer Churampi and William Vacciano. He recently won first prize in the 2024 Charleston International Music Competition for 19th Century music. Rick is a long standing member of the International Trumpet Guild and is a member of A.S.C.A.P.
Maggey Mangold is a DMA candidate from Cincinnati, Ohio. She has received her Bachelors in music education and Masters in trumpet performance at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. She is currently a brass technician at Southing High School and a private lessons instructor at Westminster Academy in Simsbury, Connecticut. She has performed with many groups including the Ohio Light Opera, Cincinnati Strings, Hartford chorale, Troupers Light Opera, and freelances in the Hartford area. She is a member of the National Association of Music Educators (NAFME)and the International Trumpet Guild (ITG). She has attended and competed at the National Trumpet Conference (NTC) and at the International Women’s Brass Conference (IWBC). Maggey is currently working on professional auditions as well as finishing her DMA.