ITG Scholarships are merit-based awards and grants offered by the International Trumpet Guild (ITG), providing $1,500 to $2,000 in recording grants, conference attendance scholarships, and monthly Young Artist Awards for trumpet students and professionals worldwide. ITG supports trumpet players through performance recognition, recording project funding, and professional development opportunities at its annual conference.
How ITG Scholarships Work
ITG funds trumpet players through three main programs. Each program has distinct eligibility requirements, deadlines, and award amounts.
ITG Recording Grants
ITG awards up to four grants of $1,500 to $2,000 each year to support trumpet-centric recording projects. Grants are open to early-career, mid-career, and established trumpet artists. Funded projects must be completed within 18 months of the award date. Applications require a live unedited performance sample, project description, biography, repertoire details, budget, and production timeline.
- Deadline: May 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
- Notification: Winners notified by July 1, 2026
- Contact: recordings@trumpetguild.org
Langston J. Fitzgerald III Legacy Scholarship
This scholarship covers costs associated with attending the ITG Conference, including registration fee, housing, travel expenses, and a per diem of $25 per day. It is designed for leaders and artists who would otherwise be unable to attend the conference.
- Deadline: March 1, 2026
- Contact: Dr. George Carpten (guc136@psu.edu) or Dr. Oscar Passley (OscarPassley@DallasCollege.edu)
- Application: Online form available through the ITG website
ITG Young Artist Awards
ITG selects one outstanding young trumpet player each month as a Young Artist Award winner. Winners receive a one-year complimentary ITG membership and are featured in the ITG Journal. Recent winners include Ryan Metsker (October 2025), a ninth grader from Ohio who studies with Chris Kiradjieff of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Ricardo Lazaro (June 2025), a self-taught seventeen-year-old from San Antonio, Texas.
- Eligibility: Young trumpet players demonstrating exceptional talent and dedication
- Award: One-year complimentary ITG membership and Journal feature
- Frequency: Monthly selections, rolling basis
Eligibility
- Active ITG membership is required for most programs (membership starts at $35 per year for students)
- Recording grants require a trumpet-centric project with the trumpet as the central instrument
- Conference scholarships require demonstrated financial need
- Young Artist Awards are open to young trumpet players who show exceptional promise
Real-World Example
A doctoral trumpet student planning to record an album of contemporary works by underrepresented composers could apply for an ITG Recording Grant by the May 1, 2026 deadline. If awarded $2,000, the student could use the funds for studio time, mixing, and mastering. The project must be completed within 18 months, meaning the album would need to be finished by January 2028. The student would submit a 10-to-15-minute audio sample of the proposed repertoire, a project budget showing how ITG funds would be used, and a production timeline.
A high school trumpet player unable to afford travel to the ITG Conference could apply for the Langston J. Fitzgerald III Legacy Scholarship by March 1. If selected, the scholarship would cover conference registration (approximately $300), housing, flights, and a $25 daily food allowance, making the conference accessible at no personal cost.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Recording a professional album costs between $5,000 and $15,000 depending on studio rates, production scope, and distribution. An ITG Recording Grant of $2,000 covers a meaningful portion of that budget. Winning the grant also adds credibility to your project when approaching labels or distributors.
For students, the conference scholarship removes the financial barrier to attending the ITG Conference, where you can perform in masterclasses, meet university faculty, and audition for programs. The Young Artist Award builds your resume and connects you with the global trumpet community through Journal exposure.
Join ITG as a student member for $35 per year. Prepare your application materials well before the deadline. For recording grants, have unedited performance samples ready and write a clear project significance statement (500 words maximum) explaining why your recording matters.
Eligibility Criteria (plain terms)
- You must be an active ITG member for most programs (student membership starts at $35 per year)
- For Recording Grants: your project must feature the trumpet as the primary solo instrument on a clear majority of the album. Solo artists, trumpet ensembles, and trumpet-led jazz or improvised music projects are eligible. You must submit a live unedited performance sample, project description, biography, repertoire details, budget, and production timeline. Funded projects must be completed within 18 months of the award date.
- For the Langston J. Fitzgerald III Legacy Scholarship: you must demonstrate financial need and show that you would otherwise be unable to attend the ITG Conference. The scholarship covers registration fee, housing, travel expenses, and a $25 per day per diem. It does not cover personal purchases or expenses outside conference activities.
- For Young Artist Awards: open to young trumpet players who demonstrate exceptional talent and dedication. There are no specific age or education level restrictions published. Winners are selected monthly on a rolling basis.
Deadlines
- ITG Recording Grants: Applications open February 1, 2026 and are due May 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. Winners notified by July 1, 2026.
- Langston J. Fitzgerald III Legacy Scholarship: Application deadline is March 1, 2026.
- ITG Young Artist Awards: Rolling monthly selections. No specific deadline. Submit materials at any time for consideration in the next monthly cycle.
Past Recipients
ITG Young Artist Award winners (recent):
- Hudson Yeager (March 2026): a seventeen-year-old trumpeter at Hewitt-Trussville High School in Trussville, Alabama, continuing a multi-generational family trumpet tradition.
- Ryan Metsker (October 2025): a sixteen-year-old from Cincinnati, Ohio, who studies with Chris Kiradjieff of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Also active in robotics, piano, and Boy Scouts.
- Ricardo Lazaro (June 2025): a seventeen-year-old self-taught trumpeter from San Antonio, Texas, ranked at the top of his class at Town East Christian School and recipient of the Principal's Award.
ITG does not publish a comprehensive public database of Recording Grant recipients. Grant winners are announced on the ITG website and featured in the ITG Journal.
Videos
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Related Opportunities
- ITEA Scholarships for tuba and euphonium students through the International Tuba Euphonium Association
- Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
- Music Schools Directory to find trumpet programs worldwide
- Streaming Royalty Calculator to estimate your post-graduation earnings
- Visit the ITG Scholarships and Grants page for official application details
